Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that its troops overran Pakistani positions in Kunar and Helmand provinces after heavy firefights late Saturday.
BY PC Bureau
October 12: In a sharp escalation of hostilities, fierce clashes erupted late Saturday along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with Taliban-led Afghan forces reportedly capturing multiple Pakistani Army outposts across the Durand Line, including in the volatile Kunar and Helmand provinces.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, the Taliban’s armed forces “captured several outposts from the Pakistani Army” in response to alleged airspace violations by Pakistan. “If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their sovereignty and will deliver a strong response,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi.
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Heavy Casualties Reported
Sources quoted by TOLOnews claimed that at least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others wounded in the ongoing border fighting. Intense exchanges of fire were reported in Bahramcha district’s Shakij, Bibi Jani, and Salehan areas, as well as Aryub Zazi district of Paktia province. The Afghan Defense Ministry stated that “Pakistani facilities and equipment were destroyed” during the overnight clashes, including one outpost each in Kunar and Helmand. Several Pakistani vehicles and weapons were reportedly seized by Taliban forces.
Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani border posts near the Durand Line, killing 12 soldiers. Pakistan responded with heavy artillery and gunfire, escalating the conflict.
The risk of further escalation remains high.
— The Sentinel (@the_sentinel_9) October 12, 2025
The Afghan side described the operation as retaliation for what it called a recent Pakistani airstrike near Kabul—an action that Afghanistan’s 201 Khalid bin Walid Army Corps said provoked “counterattacks” targeting Pakistani positions in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the strike.
Local sources reported that the clashes have spread across Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Helmand, and Nangarhar, marking one of the largest cross-border escalations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Heavy gunfire and shelling were reported in Spina Shaga, Giwi, and Mani Jabha, as the fighting spilled across multiple districts along the disputed frontier.
Qatar has expressed concern over the mounting border tensions, urging both Islamabad and Kabul to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.
Analysts say the ongoing clashes underscore the deep mistrust and volatility in Afghanistan–Pakistan relations, long marred by territorial disputes, militant movements across the border, and accusations of cross-border interference.
