ISLAMABAD, September 25, 2026 — Overnight fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has intensified tensions between the two neighboring countries, with Pakistan saying at least 13 Afghan Taliban personnel were killed during clashes in southwestern Balochistan. Afghanistan has rejected Pakistan’s account of the incident.
Fighting Erupts in Balochistan Border Area
Pakistan’s Information Ministry said its forces repelled what it described as an attempted Afghan attack in the Gulistan sector of southwestern Balochistan during the night of September 24-25.
According to Pakistani officials, at least 13 Afghan Taliban personnel were killed and several others were injured during the confrontation. The exchange of fire reportedly continued for hours, with residents in the Chaman area reporting heavy firing.
Afghanistan Rejects Pakistan’s Account
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry disputed Pakistan’s version of events, saying that Afghan forces had not suffered casualties.
Afghan authorities instead claimed that their forces had destroyed a Pakistani military post near Spin Boldak, across the border from Chaman. Pakistan rejected that claim, saying it was inaccurate.
The competing accounts could not be independently verified by the Associated Press, including the casualty figures and footage released by the two sides. By Friday, an uneasy calm had reportedly returned to the border area.
Clashes Follow Pakistani Airstrikes
The overnight fighting came one day after Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials described the targets as militant facilities, including drone storage and launch sites.
Pakistan said the strikes followed the launch of eight drones from Afghanistan and shelling of Pakistani border positions. Afghanistan said the strikes hit areas in Kandahar, Paktia and Khost, with Afghan officials reporting civilian deaths.
Earlier in the week, Pakistan had also carried out strikes in eastern Afghanistan, saying it was targeting militant hideouts. Pakistan reported that 28 militants were killed, while Afghan authorities said three civilians died. Those claims also could not initially be independently verified.
Regional Mediation Efforts Face New Pressure
The renewed clashes come amid attempts by China, Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to help reduce tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, to operate from Afghan territory. Kabul rejects those accusations and has denied responsibility for attacks carried out inside Pakistan.
The latest border confrontation adds another challenge to efforts aimed at preventing further escalation between the two countries.
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