Pakistan says at 'open war' with Afghanistan amid clashes

"Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said that operations were taking place along the border with Pakistan in five provinces. The Taliban's deputy government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, claimed that "up to 55" Pakistani soldiers have been killed, with the remains of 23 of them brought back to Afghanistan, and that an undisclosed number have been captured. The Taliban also claimed to have captured several Pakistani checkpoints in the border regions."

"Pakistan has disputed Kabul's claims on casualties, captures and territorial losses. The country's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that two Pakistani soldiers had been killed and three wounded. "A total of 133 Afghan Taliban are confirmed killed, more than 200 wounded. Many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets.""

"Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan's "patience has reached its limit" and said there is now "open war" with the Afghan Taliban."

Afghanistan and Pakistan reported military operations along their 2,611-kilometre border, the Durand Line, on Thursday with sharply divergent accounts. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry confirmed operations across five provinces. The Taliban claimed up to 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, 23 bodies recovered, and several captured, plus seizure of Pakistani checkpoints. Pakistan disputed these claims, reporting only two soldiers killed and three wounded, while asserting 133 Taliban fighters confirmed dead and over 200 wounded. Pakistan's Defense Minister declared patience exhausted and characterized the situation as open war. The countries had also exchanged cross-border fire on Tuesday without reported casualties.

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