Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes: 15 Afghan civilians, 6 Pak troops killed in fresh attacks. Here's what we know

Amid the ongoing border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, fresh details emerge claiming at least 15 more civilians have been killed in the Taliban ruling nation, whereas they were reported dead.

While Reuters reported at least six Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed in a clash with militants near the Afghan border, Afghan officials told AFP news agency that 15 civilians were dead and dozens were injured in the fresh violence on the border between the two countries.

Taliban stands in support of TLP over ‘lawful protest’

The Taliban government in Afghanistan expressed solidarity with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party in Pakistan amid the border clashes between the two nations. Taking to X on Monday (October 13), the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, said, “Protests were initiated by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party in Pakistan, with the objective of bringing their demonstration to Islamabad and conducting a lawful protest in accordance with the country’s legal framework. However, the Pakistani military responded with direct gunfire and violent attacks on the protestors, resulting in significant casualties and financial losses among the civilian population.”

What's happening?

A massive clash erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces at multiple border areas of the countries. Both sides claimed they had captured and destroyed border posts. The Taliban administration’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in “retaliatory” attacks on Saturday (October 11). This came two days after two blasts happened in Afghanistan. The tensions between the two nations are being called the worst border clashes in recent years.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani authorities claimed that their 23 soldiers were killed while the Islamabad forces killed 200 Taliban and affiliated “terrorists”. The Taliban government has accused Pakistan of being behind the bombings in Kabul and the southeastern province of Paktika two days ago. The Shehbaz Sharif government neither denied the allegations nor confirmed them.

How did it all start?

It all started around 10:30 pm on Saturday (October 11) when Taliban forces attacked the Pakistan border, which later converted into multiple firing at various locations in the border area. Pakistan named Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Bahram Chah, and Chitral as the locations where the clashes erupted. They all come under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province except Bahram Chah in Balochistan.

The Pakistani military on Sunday condemned what it called “the cowardly action”, saying it was aimed at destabilising the border to facilitate terrorism”.

“Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.

What triggered the clashes?

Afghanistan experienced two major bomb blasts on Thursday Taliban government accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s “sovereign territory”.