Saturday, March 29, 2025
Kabul | October 15, 2025 — 2:08 PM (IST)
By Gill
The ongoing border conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has entered its fifth consecutive day, with reports of a deadly airstrike that killed at least 12 Taliban fighters near the Spin Boldak crossing early Wednesday morning. More than 100 people have been injured, and both sides claim to have seized each other’s military posts and equipment.
According to sources, the latest clash erupted around 4 a.m. when Pakistani forces launched a surprise assault on an Afghan border outpost, destroying several tanks and capturing key Taliban positions. Fierce gunfire was exchanged in Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak and Pakistan’s Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, forcing Taliban troops to abandon their weapons and flee the area.
Both Afghan and Pakistani military officials have issued conflicting statements, each claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other side. Pakistan’s army asserted that its airstrikes destroyed Taliban checkpoints and a tank near the border. Meanwhile, the Taliban-led Afghan army claimed it had captured two Pakistani posts and confiscated weapons from slain Pakistani soldiers.
The border tensions, which had briefly cooled following mediation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, reignited this week after renewed artillery exchanges. Pakistani forces are reportedly on high alert along the frontier.
Afghan defense officials said a Taliban-operated drone crossed into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and dropped explosives on a Pakistani base before returning safely. Another drone reportedly crashed into a Pakistani checkpost, causing severe damage. Afghan sources allege that the strikes targeted locations used by Pakistan to launch attacks into Afghan territory.
In retaliation, Afghan troops claimed to have overpowered Pakistani soldiers, seized their arms, and killed several within minutes. However, these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
In a diplomatic escalation, Afghanistan has demanded that Pakistan hand over ISIS-Khorasan (Daesh) operatives allegedly sheltering in Pakistani territory. The list includes key figures such as Shahab al-Muhajir, Abdul Hakim Tauhidi, Sultan Aziz, and Salahuddin Rajab, accused of plotting attacks against Afghanistan.
Amid the unrest, two factions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have reportedly united to support Afghanistan against Pakistani military actions. One faction is led by Mufti Abdur Rahman of Kurram district, while another is commanded by Sher Khan from the Tirah Valley.
Observers warn that if the fighting continues, the fragile regional balance could collapse, drawing in neighboring powers and further destabilizing South Asia’s security landscape.
