The Taliban on Sunday claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured 30 more along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, warning Islamabad against harbouring ISIS terrorists. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the cross-border counterstrikes were in response to recent Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul and other Afghan provinces.
“Pakistan should expel ISIS members hiding on its soil or hand them over to the Islamic Emirate. The ISIS group poses a threat to many countries, including Afghanistan,” Mujahid stated during a press briefing.
While asserting Afghanistan’s right to defend its air and land borders, the Taliban said they had temporarily halted overnight operations along the Durand Line at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Mujahid added that at least 20 Taliban soldiers were killed during the clashes.
The Taliban also accused Pakistan of establishing new ISIS training centres in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and transporting recruits via Karachi and Islamabad airports.
The Afghan Defence Ministry confirmed the cross-border strikes early Sunday, describing them as “retaliatory and successful operations” and warned that any future violations of Afghan territory would be met with a strong response.
The developments highlight rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Taliban forces signaling readiness to defend their borders and counter ISIS threats emanating from Pakistani soil.
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