Intense cross-border clashes erupted overnight along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border after the Afghan Taliban targeted a Pakistani military position in the Gavi border belt of Kurram District around 9 PM on Saturday.
The provocation reportedly came in response to a drone strike by Pakistani forces earlier in the day that eliminated 27 militants inside Pakistani territory. In a swift and forceful retaliation, Pakistan launched a coordinated aerial and artillery assault that spanned nearly seven hours.
From Arandu in Chitral to Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets and heavy artillery struck multiple Taliban-held positions inside Afghanistan. The operation, which began late Saturday night, saw the PAF entering Afghan airspace and targeting key militant strongholds and border posts.
According to military sources, the air and ground offensive intensified between 2 AM and 4 AM, with precision strikes hitting targets in Barcha, Ali Dost, Malgai Koh, Turkamanzai Top, and Kharchar Fort. The bombardment reportedly inflicted heavy losses on the Taliban side, forcing them to abandon several forward positions.
Amid the onslaught, Afghan Taliban officials reached out to Islamabad to request a ceasefire. However, the Pakistani military command declined the request, opting to press forward with the operation until early Sunday morning.
Security analysts say the incident marks one of the most significant cross-border escalations between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Tensions between the two neighbors have been rising in recent months over cross-border militancy and safe havens for anti-Pakistan groups operating from Afghan soil.
There has been no official confirmation yet from Kabul regarding casualties or the extent of damage. Pakistan’s military, meanwhile, has signaled that it will continue to take "decisive action" against threats to its territorial sovereignty.
The clashes mark a dangerous new phase in a relationship already strained by disputes over militant sanctuaries, sovereignty violations and territorial legitimacy.
