Severe fighting erupted between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani troops along the Durand Line, marking one of the most intense military clashes since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. According to multiple international and regional media outlets, hostilites broke out at seven key border points along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, leading to heavy casualties, territorial exchanges, and cross-border artillery and drone warfare.
The Taliban claims the attacks were retalitory strikes against alleged Pakistani airstrikes that violated Afghan sovereignty earlier in the week. Pakistan, on the other hand, maintains that it was defending its border from militant incursions and accused the Taliban of providing safe havens to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)- a banned terrorist group targeting Pakistani forces.
Timeline of Events
October 9-10, 2025 : Prelude to the Conflict
- Explosions were reported in Kabul and Paktika Province, which Afghan officials claimed were caused by Pakistani airstrikes.
- Pakistan did not publicly confirm these strikes, but regional observers noted across-border aerial activity.
October 11, 2025: Outbreak of Hostilites
- Taliban units launche coordinated ground assaults on Pakistani border posts along several points of the Durand Line.
- Fighting was reported in border regiond spanning Kunar, Helmand, and Kandahar provinces (Afghan side) and Kurram Bajaur, Dir, and Chitral districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan (Pakistani side).
Taliban’s Warning
Later, Taliban defence ministry spokesman Enayat Khowarazm told AFP the “successful” operations had ended at midnight.
But he warned: “If the opposing side violtes Afghanistan’s territory again, our armed forces are ready to defend their territory and will respond firmly”.
