Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Attacks Leaving Dozens Dead In Border Region

"Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban-led government, said Kabul had launched on February 26 'a large-scale offensive operation against Pakistani military centers and military installations along the Durand Line,' a volatile border that cuts through traditional Pashtun and Baloch tribal territories. He added that 40 Pakistani security personnel had been killed."

"Pakistan said it had launched those strikes on seven militant sites inside Afghanistan in a 'retributive response' to recent suicide attacks it said were carried out by Afghan-based extremists. Pakistan claimed the strikes killed as many as 80 militants."

"Dozens of soldiers from both sides were killed in artillery clashes and heavy gunfire last year before a cease-fire was agreed through Qatari mediation. However, several rounds of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey"

Heavy gunfire erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border as tensions escalated into military confrontation. Afghanistan's Taliban-led government launched a large-scale offensive against Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line on February 26, claiming 40 Pakistani security personnel killed. Pakistan retaliated, reporting 36 Afghan border security forces killed. These attacks followed Pakistani air strikes four days earlier that killed at least 18 people in Afghan provinces. Pakistan claimed those strikes targeted seven militant sites and killed up to 80 militants in response to suicide attacks attributed to Afghan-based extremists. Afghanistan rejected Pakistan's claims as false and prepared a calculated response. Tensions have persisted since October 2025 air strikes, with previous artillery clashes and gunfire resulting in dozens of casualties before a Qatar-mediated ceasefire.

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