On October 11 and 12, there was an intense clash along the Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan with substantial casualties on both sides. According to Islamabad, its forces killed more than 200 fighters on the Afghan side, while the Taliban has claimed the killing of 58 Pakistani soldiers. According to an official press release by the Pakistan Establishment (military), there were precision fires and strikes and physical raids targeting “Taliban camps and posts, terrorist training facilities and support networks operating from Afghan territory, including elements linked to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), Fitna al Hindustan (FAH) and ISKP/ Daesh.” The Afghan military was quoted to have stated that the Afghan attacks were “in retaliation for the air strikes by Pakistani forces.” Taliban’s defence ministry went on to state that the operations ended at midnight of October 11 and “if the opposing side violates Afghanistan’s territory again, our armed forces are ready to defend their territory and will respond firmly.”

Following the clashes, Pakistan has closed the border crossings between the two countries.

For Pakistan, the clashes started on October 11, with “unprovoked” attacks from the Afghan side. For the Taliban, the border clashes were a response to an earlier attack by Pakistan on October 9, inside Afghanistan in the Kabul and Paktika province.