Kabul, Afghanistan: Tensions along the volatile Afghanistan–Pakistan border have escalated dramatically after Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense claimed that Afghan forces launched coordinated attacks on several Pakistani military positions at multiple points along the frontier.
According to Afghan officials, the operations were carried out in response to what they described as “provocations and violations” by Pakistan, although specific details of the incidents remain unclear.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Defense said that Afghan forces engaged Pakistani positions at seven key border points along the highly sensitive Durand Line, the 2,640-kilometer boundary that separates the two countries. The border has long been a flashpoint for cross-border militancy and territorial disputes.
“The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) took decisive action to protect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement read. “We have responded to repeated cross-border attacks from Pakistan, which have resulted in numerous Afghan civilian casualties over recent months.”
The statement did not specify the scale of the attacks or any casualties on either side, and Pakistan’s military has not yet issued an official response regarding the Afghan claims.
However, Pakistani security sources later reported that Pakistani forces retaliated, destroying several Afghan check-posts along the border. Pakistan, the only Muslim-majority nuclear power and home to one of the region’s largest standing militaries, has described its actions as defensive countermeasures against “unprovoked aggression.
A Long-Standing Border Dispute
The Durand Line, drawn during the British colonial period in the late 19th century, has been a persistent source of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan has never formally recognized the line as an international boundary, while Pakistan insists on its legitimacy.
The border remains a hotspot for militant activity, with Islamabad repeatedly accusing Kabul of harboring groups that target Pakistan. Afghan officials, in turn, accuse Pakistan of cross-border shelling and airstrikes.
In recent months, the security situation along the frontier has deteriorated sharply, with frequent skirmishes and increased troop movements on both sides. Analysts warn that the porous border enables the movement of insurgents and contraband, further straining bilateral relations.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, which regained control in 2021, has faced mounting pressure to manage these tensions. Once viewed as close partners, the Taliban and Pakistan now find themselves at odds as both sides struggle to control border dynamics and militant networks.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense’s claims mark a serious escalation in hostilities along the Afghan-Pakistan border. As both sides reinforce their military positions, the long-standing dispute over the Durand Line once again threatens to destabilize the region.
The international community continues to watch closely, urging restraint, dialogue, and de-escalation in one of South Asia’s most volatile flashpoints.
