New Bloody Clashes Erupt on Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated into new, bloody clashes. A number of media outlets report that Pakistan has again launched airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The tension in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations began days ago. Both sides accuse each other of aggression, presenting their own versions of casualty and injury data, which sharply contradict each other. The latest incident occurred on the Durand Line, the section considered the official border between the two countries.

According to the Afghan administration, represented by government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistani forces attacked first. As reported by Tolo News, "12 civilians were killed as a result of attacks carried out by Pakistani forces using light and heavy weaponry in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province." He said more than 100 others were wounded. Mujahid claims that Afghan forces "were forced to take retaliatory measures," during which "several Pakistani servicemen were eliminated, their checkpoints and bases were captured, and some military facilities were destroyed." The Afghan side also published videos from the scene.

Islamabad, however, presents a completely different picture of events. The Dawn newspaper, citing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Armed Forces, reports that Afghan forces struck four different points in the Spin Boldak district. According to the Pakistani side, their troops responded to the attacks, resulting in "15 to 20 Afghan servicemen being eliminated, with many others wounded."

This border escalation is not an isolated incident but a continuation of growing tensions in recent weeks. After the explosions in Kabul on October 9, Afghan authorities blamed Pakistan. On October 11, a fierce firefight took place between the border troops of the two countries in Paktia province. Regarding those clashes, the parties also presented conflicting data: the Afghan side announced the killing of 58 Pakistani soldiers, admitting 9 losses on its own side, while Pakistan reported 23 casualties and the neutralization of more than 200 "terrorists." At that time, according to Mujahid, the military actions were halted through the mediation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The current situation shows that the ceasefire was fragile, and the conflict may gain new momentum.