Pakistan seals Afghan border crossings amid clashes | DW News

Key Concepts

• Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes
• Tariq E Taliban (TTP)
• Airspace Violations and Sovereignty
• Militant Attacks and Terrorism
• Diplomatic Relations and Regional Geopolitics
• Mutual Defense Agreement (Pakistan-Saudi Arabia)
• Historical Alliances and Current Tensions

Recent Border Clashes and Mutual Accusations

The summary begins by detailing the recent severe border operations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan claims to have killed "dozens" of Pakistani soldiers, while Islamabad asserts it killed "scores" of Afghan forces. Key border crossings, including at Tokam, have been closed. The Taliban government accuses Pakistan of "repeated territory and airspace violations." Conversely, Pakistan alleges that Afghan authorities are "harboring members of the banned militant group Tariq E Taliban (TTP)" who carry out attacks on Pakistani soil.

DW reporter Bish Javit provided further details on the claims:

• Pakistan's Military: Released official footage (unverified) showing "precision fires, strikes as well as physical raids" against what it described as "Taliban camps and posts" and "terrorist training facilities." Pakistan claims to have killed approximately 200 Afghan Taliban fighters (unverified due to restricted access for independent journalists) and lost 23 of its own fighters.
• Afghan Taliban: Claimed to have captured a Pakistani post, inflicted "huge losses," and killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, while only losing 9 of their own fighters.

These clashes are described as "one of the worst or the sharpest" between the two countries since the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Triggers for Escalation and Underlying Tensions

The sudden eruption of conflict is attributed to Pakistan carrying out air strikes on Thursday in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and at a market near the border area. The Afghan Taliban stated they "retaliated against those attacks" because they "violated Afghanistan's airspace and sovereignty," leading to their cross-border operations.

Since the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021, relations with Pakistan have deteriorated, despite Pakistan's historical support for the Afghan Taliban during the US and NATO invasion post-9/11. Pakistan asserts that "militant attacks in Pakistan that are emanated from Afghanistan have killed hundreds of people."

Data and Statistics:

• In 2024, Pakistan was the "second country most affected by terrorism" globally, after Burkina Faso, with "more than 1,000 people" killed.
• In 2025 so far, "hundreds" have already been killed.
• Pakistan blames these attacks on "Pakistani militants that are being sheltered in Afghanistan."

Pakistan's Accusations Against India

Pakistan also "blames neighboring adversary India of backing these militants," an accusation that India "vehemently denies." Pakistan's official press release "notes with concern" that the escalation by Afghanistan occurred while Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki was in India. While acknowledging that a direct link cannot be definitively proven, Pakistan perceives a connection, especially given its "huge conflict with India in May this year" and its discomfort with Afghanistan fostering closer ties with India.

Credibility of Claims and Challenges for Afghan Taliban

DW analyst Shamil Shams addressed the credibility of Pakistan's claims regarding the Afghan Taliban harboring militants.

• Long-standing Claims: Pakistan has made these claims "for a very long time," and the Afghan Taliban "have not done much about it."
• Intertwined Groups: It is "difficult for the Afghan Taliban to do anything about it" because there is "not big difference between the Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban." Both groups "worked against NATO troops and the US for decades" and are "very closely linked," making separation difficult.
• Pakistan's Demands: Pakistan wants Kabul to take "decisive action" against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) who kill Pakistani troops and civilians.
• Historical Context Complicates Action: The analyst notes that Pakistan "supported these groups in one way or the other for a very long time," making it "easier said than done" for Islamabad to demand action now. There is a perceived "lack of will on the part of the Afghan Taliban," and taking such action against the TTP is "practically kind of a difficult scenario" for the regime in Kabul.

Wider Conflict Risks and Pakistan's Diplomatic Challenges

Regarding the risk of a wider conflict, particularly in light of Pakistan's recent mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, Shamil Shams offered a nuanced perspective:

• No Immediate Full-Scale War: A "full-scale military escalation" between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not expected immediately, and tensions "might cool down for a while."
• Long-Term Consequences: However, the situation has "longer and possibly more dangerous effect" and "far-reaching consequences." The "militancy issue in the border area could increase," leading to more militant attacks inside Pakistan, a pattern observed between 2010 and 2018. The "offshoots" or "splinter" groups could be very problematic for Pakistan. The region is described as "very volatile" and the scenario as "very dangerous."

The analyst also highlighted the implications of the Taliban's push for stronger ties with India for Pakistan, which now faces "hostile neighbors on both sides." This situation is seen as a "failure on the part of Islamabad's diplomacy." Pakistan is currently facing multiple fronts:

• A military escalation with India in May.
• Involvement in Middle Eastern politics through the Saudi Arabia pact, potentially obligating Pakistani forces to support Riyadh.
• The ongoing conflict with Afghanistan.

This complex diplomatic landscape is particularly challenging for Pakistan, a country grappling with an "acute economic crisis" and significant "political instability." The analyst concludes that this represents a "very bad diplomatic foreign policy" for Islamabad and "could harm Pakistan in the long run."

Synthesis and Conclusion

The recent severe border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan underscore a deeply entrenched and escalating conflict, rooted in mutual accusations of sovereignty violations and the harboring of militant groups. While Pakistan blames the Afghan Taliban for sheltering TTP militants responsible for attacks on its soil and even implicates India in backing these groups, the historical and ideological ties between the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban present a significant challenge for Kabul to take decisive action. Analysts suggest that while a full-scale war is unlikely, the long-term consequences include a likely increase in militancy within Pakistan and heightened regional instability. This complex security environment, coupled with Pakistan's strained relations with India and its new defense pact with Saudi Arabia, highlights a broader diplomatic and foreign policy crisis for Islamabad, exacerbated by its internal economic and political instability. The situation points to a volatile future for the region, with Pakistan facing significant challenges on multiple fronts.