The Ministry of National Defence on Thursday claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed during retaliatory operations carried out along the disputed Durand Line border.
The 2,611-kilometre boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan — known as the Durand Line — has never been formally recognised by Kabul.
In a press release, the Afghan defence ministry said the operation was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan (February 26), in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier.
“A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here,” the statement said.
According to the ministry, Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern sectors along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.
“In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured,” the statement claimed.
The ministry further said the four-hour operation resulted in the destruction of two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four additional posts. It also alleged that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was seized. Dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and other military supplies were reportedly captured.
The Afghan side acknowledged that eight of its fighters were killed and 11 others injured during the clashes. It also alleged that 13 civilians were wounded in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar.
Meanwhile, Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation titled “Ghazab Lil Haq” targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, according to reports by ARY News and Geo News.
Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi was quoted as saying that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and over 200 wounded in the Pakistani response. The operation reportedly destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine.
Pakistani security forces carried out operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur districts, media reports said.
Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid alleged that the Pakistani military conducted airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. In a post on X, he said there were no reported casualties from the strikes.
The situation marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two neighbouring countries along the volatile Durand Line.
