Kabul/Islamabad, Oct 12: The Taliban claimed on Sunday that at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and over 30 wounded in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line in Behrampur district. Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid warned that Pakistan would face harsh responses for any future attacks and accused Islamabad of allowing ISIS operatives to operate from its soil.
Mujahid said, “Pakistan has turned a blind eye to the presence of ISIS on its soil. Afghanistan has the right to defend its air and land borders and will not leave any attack unanswered.” He urged Pakistan to either expel or hand over key ISIS members hiding in its territory, calling the group a threat to multiple countries, including Afghanistan.
According to Mujahid, Afghan forces targeted Pakistani posts in the border provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar. “A significant amount of weapons also fell into the hands of Islamic Emirate forces,” he said, adding that more than 20 Taliban fighters were also killed or wounded in the clashes.
The airstrikes were reportedly halted following intervention by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The violence followed three explosions in Afghanistan on Thursday – two in Kabul and one in Paktika – which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad, however, did not confirm involvement, instead calling on Kabul to stop harboring the Pakistani Taliban.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, stating that the army “gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations” and destroyed several Afghan posts. He added, “There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defence, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response.”
The escalating tensions underscore ongoing cross-border friction between the two nations, with both sides accusing each other of violating sovereignty and supporting militant groups
