Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply on Friday as heavy clashes broke out along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. According to the Taliban forces, the fighting erupted “in retaliation for air strikes by Pakistani forces.” In an official statement quoted by AFP, the Afghan military said that Taliban border forces in the eastern regions “engaged in heavy clashes against Pakistani forces’ posts in various border areas.” However, details regarding the scale, location, or casualties from the skirmish remain unclear. Pakistan has not yet issued an official confirmation or response. The confrontation follows a period of rising tension between the two neighbouring countries. Earlier, the Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching airstrikes on a border town near the Durand Line, claiming it was a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

“Pakistan violated Afghanistan’s airspace, bombing a civilian market in the Marghi area of Paktika near the Durand Line and also violating Kabul’s sovereign territory,” the Afghan defence ministry stated in a post on social media. Calling the attack “an unprecedented, violent, and provocative act,” the Taliban’s statement condemned the incident and asserted that “defending our territory is our right.” The latest developments mark a serious escalation in already strained relations, raising concerns of renewed cross-border hostilities in the volatile region.