Conflict between neighbors escalates: Pakistan kills 'more than 200 Taliban and other terrorists'
The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is becoming increasingly violent. The Pakistani army has killed more than 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists near the border with Afghanistan, the Pakistani army said in a statement.
Reuters news agency could not independently confirm the number. Yesterday, the Taliban attacked Pakistani posts along the border with Afghanistan with firearms. Fifty-eight Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed. Pakistan subsequently closed its borders with the neighboring country.
The Taliban claim to have captured two Pakistani border posts in the southern province of Helmand. Pakistani security officials confirmed fighting at at least five locations along the border and said they were fighting back.
Pakistan is furious. The government "strongly condemns the incidents in which Afghanistan carried out unprovoked shelling on Pakistani territory," the Ministry of the Interior announced on X. "Firing by Afghan troops against civilians is a flagrant violation of international law."
In response, Pakistan closed border crossings with neighboring Afghanistan. The country also claims to have retaliated, including with artillery. Afghan border posts were reportedly destroyed. Calm appeared to have largely returned by Sunday morning.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reacted angrily to the violence. "We will not compromise on the defense of Pakistan. Any provocation will be met with a strong and effective response."
The Taliban, who have retaken control of Afghanistan for several years now, claim the attack is in retaliation for "the Pakistani army's airstrikes on Kabul," which reportedly took place on Thursday. Pakistan has not confirmed its involvement in the airstrikes.
According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring Pakistani Taliban fighters. They are allegedly carrying out attacks in Pakistan with the support of arch-enemy India, with which Pakistan has been at odds for decades and recently briefly fought a war.
The Afghan Taliban denies this, but for about a year and a half now, tensions have been building between the two countries, with occasional, even violent attacks on both sides. Traditionally, Pakistan and the Taliban have not been averse to each other, and the Taliban's return to Afghan rule in 2021 was also welcomed with enthusiasm by Pakistanis.
But since then, there has been no sign of rapprochement. Afghanistan, for example, disputes the border between the two countries, the so-called Durand Line, which is internationally recognized as an official border.
There is considerable concern in the Middle East about the escalations. A government spokesperson in Iran urged both countries to exercise restraint. Qatar, which is playing an increasingly important diplomatic role, expressed "deep concern" about the tensions and the consequences they could have for the security and stability of the region.
Major power Saudi Arabia also expressed its concern. The region is not eager for another war, precisely in the week when the conflict between Israel and Hamas appea
rs to have been resolved.
