Afghanistan says it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in border operations overnight

Afghanistan announced on Sunday that it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in border operations overnight, in response to what it described as repeated violations of its territory and airspace.

Earlier this week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing its capital, Kabul, and a market in the east of the country. Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the attack.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces captured 25 Pakistani army positions, killing 58 soldiers and wounding 30 others.

“The situation on all official borders and de facto lines in Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” Mujahid said at a press conference in Kabul. There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan about the casualties.

Pakistan has previously struck sites inside Afghanistan, targeting what it claims are militant hideouts, but they were in remote and mountainous areas. Both sides did too Skirmishes Along the border in the past. The violent clashes that took place on Saturday night highlight the escalating tensions.

The Taliban government’s Ministry of Defense said early Sunday morning that its forces had carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border.

“If the other side violates Afghanistan’s territorial integrity again, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country’s borders and will respond forcefully,” the ministry said.

the Torkham borders The crossing, one of two main trade routes between the two countries, was not opened on Sunday at its usual time of 8 a.m.

The Chaman crossing in southwestern Pakistan was also closed. People, including Afghan refugees who left Pakistan, have been deported due to the deteriorating security situation.

An Associated Press reporter in Chaman heard planes over Spin Boldak, a city in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, and saw smoke rising after the explosion.

Regional powers call for calm

Pakistan accuses the Afghan authorities of harboring members of the banned group Pakistan Taliban movement. Islamabad says the group is carrying out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, but Kabul denies this accusation, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.

Pakistan faces difficulties in confronting rising extremism, especially in areas bordering Afghanistan. It also accuses its nuclear-armed neighbor and rival India of supporting armed groups, without providing any evidence.

Overnight border clashes could fuel regional instability, as is the case in India and Pakistan. I came close to war Earlier this year due to a tourist massacre in the disputed Kashmir region.

India has also strengthened its relations with the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan recently Announcement of promotion From her technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for “restraint, avoid escalation, and adopt dialogue and wisdom to help reduce escalation and maintain the security and stability of the region.” Saudi Arabia has just arrived Mutual Defense Agreement With Pakistan.

Pakistan condemns the attack

Before the Afghan announcement of casualties, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and said that the country’s army “not only did not provide an appropriate response to Afghanistan’s provocations, but also destroyed many of its positions, forcing it to retreat.”

Pakistani security officials shared videos claiming to show destroyed Afghan checkpoints, but the footage could not be independently verified because the media does not have access to these areas.

According to Pakistani security officials, Afghan forces opened fire in several border areas northwest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

An official in Islamabad told the Associated Press that Pakistan took control of 19 Afghan border posts from which attacks were launched. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

“Taliban members at these sites were either killed or fled. Fires and obvious destruction were observed at the captured Afghan sites,” the official said.

The two countries share a 2,611-kilometre border known as the Durand Line, but Afghanistan has never recognized it.