Afghanistan

Dozens Killed in Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes

Published OCT 13 2025

Story

Above: The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, known as the Durand Line, in the Shorabak district on Oct. 12, 2025. Image credit: Sanaullah Seiam/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan both said they killed dozens of opposing fighters after a number of areas along the 1,600-mile-long (2,575 km) border shared between the countries — known as the Durand Line — erupted in clashes over the weekend.
The Associated Press
Guardian
Youtube
The Taliban said it killed 58 Pakistani military personnel and injured around 30 others in what it described as retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes in its territory, including Kabul, late last week. It added that nine of its fighters were killed, while as many as 18 were injured.
BBC News
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Meanwhile, Pakistan offered contrasting numbers — stating it had killed 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters while injuring hundreds more. On its side, it said 23 soldiers were killed while 29 were injured. Neither side's figures could be independently confirmed.
BBC News
Guardian
Pakistan's government also alleged the Afghan attacks were "unprovoked" — having denied responsibility for the attacks in Afghanistan last week. However, a Pakistani security source quoted in Western media conceded his country's responsibility for the attack and said it targeted senior leadership from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
BBC News
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
RTE.ie
Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Pakistan has accused it of providing safe passage to members of TTP as they carried out dozens of attacks in Pakistani territory. The allegation is backed up by a series of U.N. reports on the issue.
Guardian
Voice of America
The Express Tribune
According to reports, while some exchanges of gunfire remained, the fighting had largely ended by Sunday. Afghanistan said it ended its operation at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, a number of border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remained closed on Monday.
CNN
RTE.ie
Afghanistan International

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

While relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are at the lowest they have ever been, the truth is that Pakistan needs to engage this problem diplomatically. Choosing the alternative option of kinetic force will only lead to a full-fledged war between the two countries and such a conflict would be both catastrophic and unpredictable for all sides.

DAWN

New Eastern Outlook

Narrative B

Pakistan is rightly out of patience with the Taliban who have, despite multiple warnings, taken no action to prevent the TTP from carrying out dozens of attacks on Pakistani territory. These attacks are the logical conclusion of tensions that have been brewing and the reality is that this is likely only just the beginning of a cycle of violence, with no easy solutions to stop the fighting from escalating.

Guardian