Dozens killed in fresh Afghan border clashes as Pakistan reaches out to Qatar, Saudi Arabia

A fresh wave of violence has erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leaving dozens dead and further straining relations between the two countries.

Clashes between Pakistani security forces and Taliban fighters broke out late Tuesday in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, marking the most intense fighting since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

According to reports, the renewed hostilities followed a brief ceasefire and saw both sides accuse each other of initiating the attack. Pakistan claimed Taliban fighters targeted its border posts in Chaman and Orakzai, killing six soldiers and injuring several civilians, while retaliatory airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Force in Kandahar allegedly killed more than 30 Taliban fighters.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of provoking the conflict by shelling Spin Boldak district in Kandahar, killing 15 civilians and injuring over 100, including women and children. The Taliban said its forces destroyed multiple Pakistani outposts and seized military equipment, including tanks and weapons.

The escalating conflict has displaced thousands from border areas on both sides. The renewed fighting stems from Pakistan’s cross-border airstrikes last week on alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps near Kabul, a move that drew strong condemnation from the Taliban government, which denied harboring the militant group.

With tensions at a breaking point, Islamabad has reached out to Qatar and Saudi Arabia to mediate and prevent further escalation. Pakistani officials reportedly appealed to both nations for urgent intervention as diplomatic channels between Islamabad and Kabul have effectively broken down — Afghanistan has repeatedly denied entry to senior Pakistani ministers and military officials seeking talks.

The timing of the border clashes has added to regional tensions, coinciding with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s first official visit to India. New Delhi has announced plans to re-establish its diplomatic mission in Kabul, a move viewed with unease in Islamabad amid its deteriorating ties with the Taliban regime.