Lt Col Daniel Davis: Afghan and Pakistani forces engage in heavy clashes

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Afghanistan and Pakistan traded fire across the border, escalating tensions after an alleged air strike hit Kabul earlier this week. Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have urged both sides to exercise restraint. Now, Afghanistan's Taliban government said that its forces engaged in heavy clashes against Pakistani security forces in various areas along the border in retaliation for air strikes carried out by the Pakistani army on Kabul.

Unconfirmed reports citing Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense claimed that Taliban forces had captured multiple Pakistani army outposts along the Duran line, including in the volatile Kunar and Helmand provinces. According to the Afghan Defense Ministry, Pakistani sites, facilities, and equipment were destroyed in the attacks. There were also unconfirmed reports claiming casualties on both sides. Radio Pakistan, citing security sources, said the attacks took place at some six locations along the border.

Taliban officials from several border provinces, including Kunar, Nangar, Paktia, Khost, and Helmand, claimed that the clashes were ongoing. Later, the Taliban Defense Ministry spokesperson said that the successful operations had ended at midnight. He warned Pakistan that if it violates Afghanistan's territory again, Afghanistan's armed forces will respond firmly. A press conference is scheduled later today regarding the recent events.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Minister of Interior Mosen Nakwi called the Afghan attacks unprovoked and said that Pakistani forces were responding “with a stone for every brick.” A senior official from Pakistan's Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province said that Pakistani forces had responded with heavy fire and shot down three Afghan quadcopters suspected of carrying explosives.

On Thursday, two explosions were heard in the Afghan capital and another in the southeast of the country. The following day, the Taliban-run defense ministry blamed the attacks on Pakistan, accusing its neighbor of violating its sovereignty. Islamabad did not confirm that it was behind Thursday's attacks but called on Kabul to stop harboring the Pakistani Taliban on its soil.

Iran has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to exercise restraint amid the ongoing clashes. Top diplomat Abasari said that stability between the countries contributes to regional stability. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also expressed concern over escalating tensions.

The latest clashes come as both sides are engaged in a war of words. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to expel militants who use Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan—an accusation denied by authorities in Kabul. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Parliament on Thursday that several efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban to stop backing the TTP had failed and warned that Pakistan will not tolerate this any longer. Asif also accused its other neighbor, India, of using Afghanistan to target Pakistan.

These clashes are happening while Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is in India. Pakistan has lodged formal objections with Afghanistan's ambassador in Islamabad over the India-Afghanistan joint statement during the visit—especially the mention of Jammu and Kashmir. It has also objected to remarks by Muttaqi that terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan.

Earlier, retired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Davis from Sterling, Virginia—who was deployed in Afghanistan twice, in 2005 and 2011—commented on the escalation.

He said that it’s not in danger of regionally escalating right now, as it’s primarily a match between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the various versions of the Taliban on either side of the border. The main concern, he said, is that Pakistan might perceive this as a “second front,” feeling surrounded by pro-Indian groups, which could prompt it to strike in a different direction—possibly toward India. Davis warned that if Pakistan feels hemmed in, the conflict could expand. He expressed hope that countries like China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia could help de-escalate the situation, since no one would benefit if it widens further.