News Desk – Pakistan closed all major border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday (October 12, 2025), following heavy overnight clashes between the two countries’ forces.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence said its troops opened fire on Pakistani border posts in response to Pakistani airstrikes earlier in the week. Kabul claimed that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 20 Afghan troops were either killed or injured in the fighting. Pakistan did not confirm these numbers but said its forces also caused “heavy damage” to Afghan positions.
Both sides accused each other of destroying several border posts. Videos shared by Pakistani officials appeared to show Afghan checkpoints being hit.
The fighting started late Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning, mainly along the Chaman and Kurram regions. Local residents reported gunfire through the night. By Sunday morning, the situation had mostly calmed, though sporadic firing continued in some areas.
Afghanistan said it stopped its attacks after requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “The Islamic Emirate and the people of Afghanistan will defend their land,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Pakistan’s two main border crossings Torkham and Chaman along with three smaller ones were shut down, halting trade and travel.
The tensions follow Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul on Thursday (October 9, 2025), which reportedly targeted the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group fighting to overthrow the Pakistani government. It’s unclear if the militant leader survived.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of sheltering TTP fighters inside Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.
The situation remains tense as both nations brace for possible further escalation along their 2,600-km shared border.
