A Pakistani paramilitary soldier was killed and seven others were injured in overnight clashes with Afghan forces along the volatile border between Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Afghanistan’s Khost province. This flare-up of violence follows airstrikes carried out by Pakistan, which Afghan authorities have condemned for causing civilian deaths.
The clashes erupted after the Taliban in Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out deadly air strikes earlier this week near the border in Paktika province. These strikes were said to have killed at least 46 people, including women and children. While Pakistan confirmed targeting “terrorist hideouts,” it has not officially acknowledged the number of civilian casualties.
In response to the deadly airstrikes, Afghan forces launched retaliatory strikes at “several points” across the border, according to the Afghan Defense Ministry. The Pakistani military has not confirmed whether the Afghan retaliation resulted in any casualties among Pakistani forces, although several Pakistani soldiers were injured during the subsequent clashes in Kurram, a border district in Pakistan.
The violence prompted hundreds of Afghans to take to the streets of Khost city, where they protested against Pakistan’s actions. Demonstrators called for accountability for the civilian deaths, with some demanding global economic pressure on Pakistan to prevent future attacks. The protestors voiced their support for the Afghan military, with one demonstrator praising Afghan forces for their “strong response.”
“We demand the world hold the Pakistani military accountable for these cruel and foolish attacks,” said protester Rashidullah Hamdard. “A path to peace must be put in place, or else the youth will not stay silent.”
The deadly strikes and retaliations are the latest chapter in the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has long accused the Taliban government of providing sanctuary to militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who have launched cross-border attacks on Pakistani soil. Afghanistan’s government has denied these accusations.
The recent surge in border violence came just days after Pakistan’s military claimed responsibility for airstrikes in March that killed eight Afghan civilians. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called for an investigation into the airstrikes, and UNICEF condemned the killing of at least 20 children during the recent attacks.
Pakistan, grappling with a resurgence of militant violence, has warned that the continued rise in attacks along the border would mark a “red line” for its government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the tensions on Friday, demanding that Kabul take action against TTP militants operating on Afghan soil.
“We desire good ties with them (Kabul), but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people,” Sharif said, reinforcing the urgency of the matter.
As both countries continue to navigate the volatile frontier, the situation remains fragile, with calls for international intervention to de-escalate tensions and prevent further civilian casualties. The deadly cross-border clashes serve as a reminder of the volatile relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which remains marred by accusations, distrust, and violence.
Sources By Agencies
