Illustrative image.
Dozens of Pakistani and Afghan troops were killed in border clashes that took place on October 11 and 12, bringing the two countries close to war.
The escalation began on October 9, when Afghanistan accused Pakistan of launching strikes against the capital, Kabul, and a market in the province of Paktika. The strikes reportedly targeted senior members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is more commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, including the group’s leader Noor Wali Mehsud.
Islamabad had before demanded the Taliban to take action against the TTP who have stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operate from havens in Afghanistan. Kabul, from its side, denied that the group is active on its soil.
Each side said it inflicted far higher casualties on the other side. Footage released by the Pakistani military on October 12 shows a series of strikes on positions of the Taliban.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense also shared footage showing drone attacks that targeted border posts of the Pakistani military.
Pakistan said it had killed more than 200 Afghan Taliban and allied fighters, while Afghanistan said that it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan military acknowledged that 23 of its soldiers were killed in the clashes. The Taliban said only nine on its side were killed.
Pakistan close two main border crossings with Afghanistan as a result of the clashes, at Torkham in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in the province of Balochistan, in addition to three minor crossings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at Kharlachi, Angoor Adda and Ghulam Khan.
Despite the escalation, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on October 12 calling for dialogue and diplomacy with Afghanistan.
“Pakistan greatly values dialogue and diplomacy and a mutually beneficial relationship with Afghanistan,” the ministry said in the statement, adding that the fight against terrorism is a “common cause.”
At the same time, it added, Pakistan continues to “closely” monitor the situation and will take all possible measures to safeguard its territory and the lives of its people.
Just a few weeks before the escalation, President Donald Trump threatened the Taliban with “bad things” if does not hand back the strategic Bagram Airfield to the U.S.
“If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on September 20.
Trump, of course, didn’t miss the chance to jump on the situation, pledging on October 12 to solve the crisis between the two countries.
“This will be my eighth war that I’ve solved, and I hear there’s a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One while en route to Israel.
“I said I’ll have to wait till I get back. I’m doing another one. Because I’m good at solving wars, I’m good at making peace, and it’s an honor to do it. I saved millions of lives, millions of lives,” he added.
Trump clearly sees the crisis between Pakistan and Afghanistan as a chance to pressure the Taliban, without directly intervening. More involvement by the U.S. is to be expected.
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trump speaks like a dumbass, “i said i’ll have to wait till i get back. i’m doing another one. because i’m good at solving wars, i’m good at making peace, and it’s an honor to do it. i saved millions of lives, millions of lives,” he added. smh 🤦 and the people that fall for it are even dumber 😂
this made me laugh. after pakistani troops fled and abandoned multiple border posts, afghan forces are now casually patrolling durand line. the “mighty” lahori churans chickens who roar on tv and social media seem to hold a world record in supersonic surrender when facing a real fight against afgan 🇦🇫💪🇦🇫