A deadly spiral of violence gripped the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, leaving 19 dead and dozens injured in Khost and Paktika provinces. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat revealed the grim statistics, underscoring the tragic loss of mostly women and children in the crossfire.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid framed the incidents as fallout from surging Kabul-Islamabad tensions, blaming a Pakistani-based ‘special group’ for sowing chaos. From Kandahar, he appealed to regional powers to rein in provocateurs, claiming Afghan strikes hit Pakistani targets with pinpoint accuracy.
The tit-for-tat began with Pakistani airstrikes Thursday night battering Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, killing 13 Afghan troops and wounding 22. Afghanistan hit back Friday morning, pounding sites in Islamabad’s Faizabad, Naushera’s cantonment, Jamrud colony, and Abbottabad, as per Fitrat’s X post.
Defense Ministry updates boasted of border gains: 55 Pakistani soldiers down, 19 posts and two bases captured, though eight Afghans died and 11 were hurt. Prior Pakistani attacks had struck a Nangarhar refugee camp, wounding 13 civilians.
Mujahid stressed repeated negotiation rounds with Pakistan, dismissed by Islamabad, and ongoing airspace violations by Pakistani jets. He lambasted Pakistan for endless war excuses and deflecting domestic woes onto Afghanistan. Pakistani outlets like Dawn touted their ‘Operation Gajab Lil-Haq’ airstrikes on Afghan positions as defensive.
This volatile exchange not only inflicts civilian suffering but threatens to engulf neighbors in proxy strife. With both militaries reporting victories and no ceasefire in sight, the border remains a powder keg, demanding urgent diplomatic intervention to avert catastrophe.