Over the weekend, the already tense relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan exploded into one of the deadliest border confrontations in recent memory, leaving at least 23 Pakistani soldiers and more than 200 militants dead, according to official statements from both sides. The clashes, which erupted along the disputed Durand Line between October 11 and 12, 2025, have drawn international concern and prompted urgent calls for restraint from regional powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, the violence began when Afghan Taliban fighters, joined by members of the India-backed group Fitna Al Khawarij, launched what Pakistan described as "unprovoked and cowardly assaults" involving gunfire and limited raids. The attacks, which targeted Pakistani military positions along the border, were allegedly aimed at destabilizing the area and facilitating terrorism. The ISPR accused the Taliban of working in concert with groups such as Fitna Al Khawarij, Fitna Al Hindustan, and Daesh to further these designs.
In response, Pakistani forces mounted coordinated retaliatory operations across multiple border sectors. These operations included precision airstrikes and limited ground incursions against confirmed militant positions, with the stated goal of minimizing civilian casualties. Pakistani troops reportedly took temporary control of 21 posts on the Afghan side of the border, disabling various camps believed to be used for planning attacks against Pakistan. The ISPR stated, "Preliminary assessments and analysis of the wreckage indicated that over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants were killed, with the number of injured believed to be higher." The Pakistani side suffered significant losses as well, with 23 soldiers killed and 29 wounded.
The Pakistani military emphasized that it had taken "utmost care" to avoid civilian harm during its operations, insisting that only confirmed militant positions were targeted. The infrastructural damage to Taliban posts, camps, and support networks was described as "extensive, all along the border and range from tactical to operational depth." The ISPR reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to defend its territorial integrity, warning, "While Pakistan prefers dialogue and diplomatic channels, the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan will not be tolerated."
The timing of the border violence has not gone unnoticed. The ISPR highlighted that the attacks coincided with the Afghan foreign minister's visit to India—"the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region," as the statement put it—calling the overlap "deeply troubling." Pakistani officials have urged the Taliban government in Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist groups and to take "immediate, verifiable action" against Fitna Al Khawarij, Fitna Al Hindustan, and Daesh. Otherwise, the statement warned, "Pakistan will continue to exercise its right to defend its people by persistent neutralization of terror targets."
On the Afghan side, the narrative is markedly different. The Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, speaking from New Delhi during his six-day visit, struck a defiant tone. "We want zero tensions. But if some people don't want peace, Afghanistan is capable of defending its territory and airspace," he declared. Muttaqi insisted that Afghanistan seeks a peaceful resolution but has "other means" if diplomacy fails. He denied Pakistani accusations that the Taliban harbors the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan, and instead accused Islamabad of displacing tribal people through military operations.
Muttaqi also addressed the Pakistani casualties, saying, "The people of Pakistan, in the majority, are peace-loving and want good relations with Afghanistan… There are a few elements in Pakistan that are creating tensions." He emphasized that Afghanistan had "achieved our military objectives" in the overnight clashes and was committed to peace, noting that Qatar and Saudi Arabia had urged an end to the conflict. Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson claimed that Afghan forces had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured 30 others, although Islamabad confirmed only 23 fatalities. Afghan forces also reported capturing multiple Pakistani border posts.
As the violence raged, key border crossings—including Torkham and Chaman—were shut down, disrupting trade and stranding travelers. The closure of these lifelines has added economic strain to the region, already reeling from years of instability. The ISPR expressed condolences for the Pakistani soldiers who "embraced martyrdom" and assured that the wounded were receiving the best possible medical care.
The international response was swift. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran all called for restraint and urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need for diplomacy to prevent further escalation, while Iran offered to mediate between the two neighboring Muslim countries. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, emphasized, "the need for mutual respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty," and called on both Islamabad and Kabul to "exercise restraint and immediately initiate dialogue to reduce tensions and prevent further conflict." Saudi Arabia, for its part, highlighted its recent defense pact with Pakistan, signaling strategic support for Islamabad but stopping short of threatening intervention.
On the ground, the situation remains volatile. Afghan Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid declared that Afghan forces are "fully prepared to defend the country’s borders" and warned that any future Pakistani actions would be met with an even more severe response. "Afghanistan has the right to defend its air and land borders and will not leave any attack unanswered," he told Tolo News. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed a "strong and effective response" to what he called Afghan provocations, reiterating Islamabad’s stance on maintaining security and territorial integrity.
The roots of the conflict run deep. At its heart is Pakistan’s accusation that the Taliban shelters the TTP, a claim Kabul denies. The TTP, which shares the Taliban's ideology, has been blamed for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. The violence has surged since the TTP ended its ceasefire in November 2022, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces bearing the brunt. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for nearly 71% of violence-related fatalities and over 67% of violent incidents in the third quarter of 2025.
Former Pakistani Ambassador Asif Durrani described the recent border clashes as part of a recurring pattern, cautioning against reading too much into the timing, which coincided with the Afghan foreign minister’s visit to India. Durrani also criticized Pakistan’s interior minister for making public statements about a "befitting reply," arguing that such responses should come from the Foreign Ministry or the military.
With both sides trading accusations and warnings, and regional powers urging calm, the path forward remains uncertain. What is clear is that the cost of continued violence will be borne not only by soldiers and militants, but also by the civilians who call the borderlands home. As the dust settles, all eyes are now on diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider conflagration.