Afghanistan’s military said Thursday it had captured several Pakistani army posts in retaliatory strikes following Pakistani air attacks on Afghan border areas earlier this week, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two volatile neighbours.
A statement from the eastern corps of Afghanistan’s military said “heavy clashes” erupted Thursday night in response to what it described as recent Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan. There was no immediate word on casualties, and Pakistan’s military had not issued an official response at the time of reporting.
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X that “large-scale offensive operations” had been launched against Pakistani military bases and installations along the Durand Line, the 2,611-kilometre border that Afghanistan does not formally recognise.
Mujahid claimed at least five Pakistani army posts were captured. Shortly afterward, officials in Nangarhar province said Afghan forces had seized a total of 17 Pakistani military positions.
Pakistani local authorities and senior security officials said their forces deployed along the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were responding to what they described as “unprovoked fire” from Afghan positions. According to local administrators, the exchange of fire began in the Khyber district and later spread to at least four other districts.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained high for months. Deadly clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants after explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad later carried out strikes deep inside Afghanistan, saying it was targeting militant hideouts.
A ceasefire mediated by Qatar has mostly held, but sporadic border fire has continued. Several rounds of peace talks in November failed to produce a formal agreement.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s military said it had killed at least 70 militants in strikes along the Afghan border. Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying dozens of civilians were killed, including women and children.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said “various civilian areas” in eastern provinces were hit, including a religious madrassa and several homes, calling the strikes a violation of Afghan airspace and national sovereignty.
