Post by : Rameen Ariff

Islamabad, Pakistan – Tensions flared between Pakistan and Afghanistan as fierce clashes erupted along their shared border on Saturday night, prompting the closure of key crossings. The confrontations followed Taliban accusations that Pakistan had carried out airstrikes in Afghan territory earlier this week.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incidents, calling them “provocations by Afghanistan” and warning that Islamabad would respond firmly to any further aggression. “There will be no compromise on Pakistan's defence, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response,” Sharif said, accusing the Afghan Taliban of allowing militants to operate from their soil.

Key border crossings, including Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in Balochistan, were shut down to both pedestrian and trade movements. Extra paramilitary forces have been deployed to secure the borders, and civilian staff were withdrawn from the areas to prevent harm in case of continued fighting.

Officials reported that clashes involved heavy weapons in at least four districts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. While no Pakistani casualties have been confirmed, the Afghan Taliban claimed their operations against Pakistani security forces were “successful” and ended by midnight.

Militancy has increased in Pakistan’s border regions since the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power. Pakistan accuses the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which shares ideology and training links with the Afghan Taliban, of killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. A UN report also noted that the TTP receives “substantial logistical and operational support” from the de facto Afghan authorities.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated in parliament that repeated efforts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting TTP militants have failed. “Enough is enough. The Pakistani government and army’s patience has run out,” he said.

The situation remains tense, with Pakistan closely monitoring border security while seeking international support to prevent further violence and ensure regional stability.

#Global #News