Post by : Rameen Ariff

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated further as the Afghan Taliban released dramatic footage showing a drone striking a Pakistani border outpost. The black-and-white video, shared by Taliban officials, showed a small ordnance, likely a mortar round, hitting the roof of a rectangular structure claimed to be a Pakistan military post. The impact caused a significant explosion, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing conflict along the southern border.

Dozens of Pakistani soldiers have reportedly been killed or gone missing in one of the deadliest clashes in years, while the Afghan Taliban have also suffered casualties. The footage appears to document one of multiple attacks along the border, as Pakistan reported assaults on two major outposts in the southwest and northwest of its territory. Pakistan claimed that about 20 Taliban fighters were killed in early morning attacks near Spin Boldak, a district in southern Kandahar province, which the Afghan side disputes.

According to Taliban sources, the clashes near Spin Boldak resulted in the deaths of 15 civilians and injuries to dozens more. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistani forces of repeatedly attacking the region with light and heavy weapons, forcing Afghan forces to retaliate. An Afghan spokesman, Ali Mohammad Haqmal, clarified that civilian casualties were caused by mortar fire, underlining the devastating impact on local populations.

The violence comes in the wake of a series of explosions in Afghanistan last week, including two in the capital, Kabul, which Pakistan reportedly blamed on Afghan-based actors. Islamabad has consistently accused Afghanistan of providing safe haven to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a claim denied by Kabul. The TTP, trained in Afghanistan and ideologically aligned with the Taliban, has been responsible for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told parliament that multiple efforts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to halt support for the TTP had failed, intensifying cross-border hostilities.

The situation has further escalated with reports of Afghan tanks moving toward the frontline, signaling a possible larger-scale confrontation. Last week’s explosions in Afghanistan coincided with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s historic visit to India, although no group has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

As both nations continue to blame each other for recent hostilities, the border remains a volatile flashpoint, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The drone footage released by the Afghan Taliban demonstrates the growing use of modern warfare tactics in this ongoing dispute, highlighting the serious security challenges faced by both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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