Fresh Airstrike in Afghanistan Kills 12 Taliban Fighters as Fierce Border War With Pakistan Escalates

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply intensified following a deadly early morning clash at the Spin Boldak border. Around 4 am, Pakistani forces launched a surprise attack on an Afghan post, killing 12 Taliban fighters and injuring over 100 people. The assault led to the destruction of several tanks, forcing Taliban fighters to abandon both their weapons and positions.

Fierce Clashes and Ongoing Operations

In addition to Spin Boldak, heavy fighting erupted in Pakistan’s Kurram district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), with reports of cross-border gunfire from Afghan soldiers met by strong retaliation from the Pakistani army. Both sides are making conflicting claims—each asserting they have killed opposing soldiers, destroyed tanks, and captured enemy posts. Earlier, a brief truce brokered by Saudi Arabia and Qatar had paused fighting, but hostilities have now resumed at full intensity.

Drone Attacks and New Tactics

The conflict has also seen new tactics, including drone warfare. The Afghan army reported that Taliban drones entered Pakistan’s border areas, targeting military bases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and damaging posts with explosives. In retaliation, the Afghan army claimed to destroy two Pakistani positions and seize weapons left by fleeing soldiers.

Regional Fallout and ISIS-K Issue

Amid these clashes, Afghanistan has demanded that Pakistan hand over key ISIS-Khorasan (Daesh) terrorists accused of plotting attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan named individuals including Shahab al-Muhajir, Abdul Hakim Tauhidi, Sultan Aziz, and Salahuddin Rajab. In a new development, two factions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have aligned with Afghanistan, declaring support for a “caliphate” in opposition to Pakistan.

Pakistan’s military remains on high alert along the border, while the humanitarian crisis and security risks in the frontier regions continue to deepen as fighting escalates.