Pakistan-Afghanistan war: 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, 19 bases captured, claims Kabul

Tensions escalated sharply along the disputed Afghanistan–Pakistan frontier on Thursday, with both sides claiming heavy casualties following cross-border military action.

The Afghan Ministry of National Defence said its forces carried out retaliatory strikes along the 2,611-kilometre boundary known as the Durand Line, alleging prior violations by Pakistani troops. Afghanistan has historically refused to formally recognise the colonial-era border demarcation.

Afghan Claim of Retaliatory Action

In an official statement, the ministry said the operation began at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan (February 26). Kabul alleged that Pakistani forces had earlier crossed into Afghan territory, resulting in civilian deaths, including women and children.

According to the Afghan side, its forces targeted Pakistani military positions across eastern and southeastern sectors near Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces. The ministry claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed during the four-hour operation.

Afghan authorities further asserted that two Pakistani military bases were destroyed and 19 posts were captured, while troops reportedly abandoned four additional posts. The statement also claimed the destruction of a tank and the seizure of a military transport vehicle, along with light and heavy weapons and ammunition.

The ministry acknowledged that eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 others injured during the operation. It also alleged that 13 civilians sustained injuries in a missile strike on a refugee camp in Nangarhar.

Pakistan’s Counter-Operation ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’

In response, Pakistan reportedly launched an operation named ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’ targeting positions of the Afghan Taliban regime. According to ARY News, Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded in the retaliatory strikes.

Geo News reported that 27 Taliban posts were destroyed and nine captured during Pakistan’s counteroffensive. Pakistani security forces are said to have conducted operations across multiple border districts, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur.

Also Read: India condemns Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan, says attempt to ‘externalise internal failures’

Taliban Allegations of Airstrikes

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. In a post on X, he said the strikes did not result in any reported casualties.

The situation along the volatile Durand Line remains tense, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts of casualties and battlefield gains. Independent verification of the claims was not immediately available.