The border forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan came into conflict on 26th February night, when the Taliban fired what it termed revenge attacks on Pakistani installations, dramatically upgrading tensions following days of cross-border fire.

The Pakistani authorities claimed that the Afghan forces opened fire on posts in the mountainous northwest of Pakistan, which led to over two hours of fighting, before Pakistani troops counterattacked, Pakistani officials said, on condition of anonymity because they were not licensed to address the press.

Islamabad, as well as the Taliban government, announced that they had ruined or taken control of opposing posts along the border, which Reuters was unable to confirm independently.

The Afghan security forces posted videos of Humvees driving at night over mountainous terrain, which was illuminated by flashlights of gunfire. However, there were sustained bursts of automatic fire in the background.

Independent video footage published by Pakistani security agencies seemed to depict tracer rounds flying in an arcing manner in an equally barren and mountainous neighbourhood with continuous bursts of automatic fire reverberating along the valleys.

Reuters could not independently verify the place where the footage was taken, when or whether it was genuine.

The Information Ministry in Islamabad posted a message on X saying that Pakistan was retaliating for “unprovoked fire” on its borders by Afghan forces at various points.

It reported that there was an “immediate and effective response” by troops, which resulted in casualties and destroyed several posts and equipment, and that Pakistan will do everything within its power to protect its territorial integrity and its people.

RETALIATION AFTER AIRSTRIKES

The confrontations along the 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border are the most recent outburst to jeopardise a weak ceasefire after fatal confrontations last fall.

This time, the Taliban threatened it would respond appropriately and measuredly to airstrikes by Pakistan over the weekend against what Islamabad claimed to be camps of militants belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State in Khorasan Province in eastern Afghanistan.

Islamabad accuses TTP leaders of being based in Afghanistan territory and uses that as a haven where they plan their attacks within Pakistan, which Kabul denies.

In retaliation for Pakistan firing rockets at them, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced in a post on X that “large-scale offensive operations have been carried out by the Taliban against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line, and in a different statement, announced that there are specialised laser units operating at night.”

Mujahid reported the murder of 40 Pakistani soldiers in Kunar, and the Pakistani security sources reported that 22 Taliban members were killed and several quadcopters were downed. Reuters had not been able to confirm the claims of either side on its own.

In the event that Pakistan invaded Kabul or the major centres, “he threatened to retaliate by destroying their main centres and other major cities because the Taliban did not intend to expand the war, but would instead react.”

In a text message, the spokesperson of the Pakistani prime minister, Mosharraf Zaidi, told Reuters: “Not only did no Pakistani posts get captured or damaged, but Pakistani forces have caused heavy losses across the border in retaliation to the unprovoked Taliban aggression, as of 2320 (1820 GMT) hrs.”

“Any aggression will be met with the same reply, i.e., immediate, effective,” he added.

Pakistan reported that it was increasing security in the country this week, putting troops on high alert and speeding up intelligence-led operations, arresting dozens of suspected militants, their handlers and facilitators, including Afghan nationals.