Pakistan says 23 soldiers killed in Afghan border clashes, claims heavy Taliban losses

Pakistan’s military said 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 wounded in overnight cross-border attacks by Afghan Taliban forces, prompting heavy retaliatory strikes that it claimed destroyed multiple Taliban positions and killed more than 200 militants.

In a statement Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said Afghan Taliban militants and “Indian-sponsored” militants from the so-called Fitna al Khawarij (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) launched “unprovoked” attacks on Pakistani border posts along several stretches of the frontier on the night of Oct. 11–12.

Pakistan’s army said its forces “exercised the right of self-defense,” repelling the assault decisively and targeting Taliban camps, terrorist training sites, and support networks operating from Afghan territory. It said precision strikes and ground raids “inflicted heavy casualties” and that 21 hostile positions were briefly captured.

200 Taliban militants neutralized

The military said the retaliatory action “neutralized” over 200 Taliban militants and affiliated militants. It added that all possible measures were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

Earlier, Pakistan’s prime minister said he ‘strongly condemns provocations’ by Afghanistan, vowing a ‘strong and effective response.’

“There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defense, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, accusing the Taliban administration of allowing its soil to be used by “terrorist elements.”

Shehbaz said Pakistan would “not tolerate treacherous use of Afghan soil for terrorism,” warning that further provocations would invite a firm military response.

Earlier on Sunday, state broadcaster PTV News reported that Pakistani forces had captured 19 Afghan border posts from where attacks were being launched. Security sources described the action as a “major success,” saying flames and destruction were visible at the targeted positions.

The clashes mark one of the deadliest incidents along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border since the Taliban seized power in 2021, sharply escalating tensions between the two neighbors.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed casualties on the Afghan side, saying nine militants were killed and 16 wounded.

He said the fighting stopped “at the request of Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” but accused Pakistan of resuming strikes after the pause. Mujahid also claimed that Taliban forces had “captured 20 Pakistani posts” near the border but later withdrew after hostilities ended.

Calls for restraint

Regional and international powers have urged both sides to de-escalate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Afghanistan and Pakistan “to exercise restraint,” saying stability between the two countries was vital for regional peace.

Saudi Arabia — which recently signed a defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan — also expressed “deep concern,” urging both sides to “avoid escalation” and “embrace dialogue and wisdom.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry similarly appealed for calm, calling on both countries to prioritize diplomacy “to reduce tension and achieve regional stability.”

The Pakistani military noted with concern that the Afghan attack occurred during the Taliban foreign minister’s visit to India — a country Islamabad accuses of supporting anti-Pakistan militants through Afghan territory. India has denied those allegations.

ISPR said the latest clashes “vindicate Pakistan’s long-standing position that the Taliban government is actively facilitating terrorists,” warning that Islamabad will continue to exercise its right to defend its people “by persistent neutralization of terror targets.”

The incident follows months of rising border tensions and an uptick in militant attacks inside Pakistan, which Islamabad blames on the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan sanctuaries.