US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan after deadly clashes along the 2,600 km border claimed the lives of dozens of Pakistani soldiers and hundreds of Taliban fighters, including senior Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders.
The violence erupted on Saturday evening when Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani military posts. Pakistani forces responded with artillery, drones, and gunfire, continuing into Sunday. Sporadic skirmishes were reported on Monday morning. Pakistani officials confirmed 23 soldiers had been killed, while Taliban losses reportedly exceeded 200 fighters, though both sides claim heavier damage.
The clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes in multiple locations across the Afghan capital. The Taliban retaliated with border attacks, intensifying tensions in a region already fraught with militancy.
TTP, an amalgamation of several extremist outfits operating in northwest Pakistan since 2007, has been responsible for hundreds of attacks on civilians and state infrastructure, including targeted killings, assaults on mosques, markets, airports, and military posts. In 2014, the group killed over 130 children in an attack on a Peshawar school, prompting a military offensive that pushed many members into Afghanistan.
Also read: 200 Taliban, 23 Pakistani soldiers killed in border clashes
“The Taliban have infrastructure and training centres located across Afghanistan,” Pakistani sources noted, highlighting the persistent threat posed by the group.
Commenting on the escalation, Trump said on Monday, “I hear there's a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He added, “I’ll have to wait until I get back. You know, I’m doing another one, because I’m good at solving wars.”
Both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have accused each other of initiating attacks, while Pakistan has also accused India of supporting Taliban activities on its western front. The skirmishes come despite the 2021 Doha peace accords, in which the Taliban pledged action against groups targeting Pakistan, including the Majeed Brigade, Baloch Liberation Army, and TTP.
Analysts warn that the latest clashes could destabilise an already volatile region, complicating counterterrorism efforts and cross-border security arrangements.
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