Pakistan Claims Destruction of 3 Taliban Posts, Killing 23 Fighters
DID Press: Following renewed tensions along the Spin Boldak border in Kandahar, Pakistani media have reported that the country’s security forces, in response to what they say was a ceasefire violation by the Taliban authorities, destroyed three Taliban border posts and killed at least 23 of their fighters. The Taliban administration, however, claims that Pakistan initiated the clashes and that its shelling caused civilian casualties.
Border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government have once again escalated. The News International reported on Sunday (Dec. 7), citing security sources, that Taliban forces allegedly violated the ceasefire late Friday night (Dec. 5) by carrying out “unprovoked” small-arms fire along the Chaman border in Balochistan.
According to the report, Pakistani forces responded to the gunfire by striking Taliban positions. Local sources told the newspaper that the clashes continued intermittently for about 45 minutes.
Pakistani sources further claimed that heavy weapons—including RPGs, rockets, and precision-guided munitions—were used to prevent the fighting from spreading, resulting in the destruction of three Taliban border posts. They also asserted that the use of precision weapons was intended “to avoid civilian casualties.”
The report alleges that Taliban forces abandoned their posts, retreated into residential areas, and opened fire again—prompting Pakistan to respond with heavy shelling and drone strikes. As a result, more than 23 Taliban fighters were reportedly killed and several others wounded.
According to the Pakistani side, after suffering heavy losses, the Taliban raised a white flag and requested a ceasefire, after which Pakistani forces permitted the evacuation of the dead and wounded.
Musharraf Zaidi, media adviser to Pakistan’s prime minister, echoed this account, claiming that “Afghan forces initiated unprovoked firing,” and stressed that “Pakistan is determined to protect its territorial integrity and safeguard its citizens.”
Taliban officials, however, present a completely different version of events. Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesperson, said Pakistani forces were the first to launch an attack in Spin Boldak district. His deputy, Hamdullah Fitrat, told Reuters that Pakistani shelling killed five people, including one Taliban member, and wounded five civilians.
Border tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have intensified over the past two months, following Pakistani airstrikes on targets in Kabul and Paktika—operations that drew a strong reaction from the Taliban government and pushed bilateral relations into a crisis.
Three rounds of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey have so far failed to produce results. A central point of contention between the two sides remains the issue of controlling Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that continues to pose a major challenge in Kabul–Islamabad relations.