Tensions along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan are steadily escalating. In recent days, military actions and cross-border shelling between the two countries have further intensified the situation, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict.
The Defense Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has claimed that Afghan defense forces carried out a retaliatory strike against a Pakistani military camp located in the Wana area of South Waziristan in response to Pakistani attacks.
According to the ministry, the operation was conducted under what it described as a “replacement operation.” The attack reportedly targeted units of Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) commandos as well as other key military facilities inside the camp. Afghan officials stated that a significant portion of the military headquarters and several base facilities were destroyed in the strike, allegedly causing substantial military and economic losses to Pakistan.
Allegations of Attacks in Kandahar and Nuristan
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Pakistani forces bombed an area near the health department of an addiction treatment center and an empty container in Kandahar. However, no casualties were reported from that incident.
Meanwhile, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Hamdullah Fitrat, claimed that Pakistani forces shelled a civilian house in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan Province, killing one person and completely burning down a memorial building.
Civilian Casualties in Khost and Kunar
Afghan authorities also reported that Pakistani forces launched mortar and artillery attacks on the Sepira and Gurbaz districts of Khost Province. Two children were reportedly killed and two others injured in these strikes.
In another late-night mortar attack on a village in the Gurbaz district, reports indicate that a woman and a child were killed. Additional attacks on the market area, central clinic, and Ata Khel village in the Zazai Maidan district injured four people, including a woman. Local residents said several homes were completely destroyed in the bombardment.
Heavy Shelling in Kunar
Officials in Kunar Province reported that Pakistani forces fired approximately 150 rockets and artillery shells over the past 24 hours on the Dangam, Sarkano, Nari, and Manogai districts. The shelling injured two civilians and reportedly set several houses on fire.
Thousands of Families Displaced
Continuous shelling near the Durand Line, particularly in Kunar’s Parto district, has forced thousands of families to flee their homes. Local sources say indiscriminate bombardment has pushed residents to abandon their villages and seek refuge in safer areas.
China Initiates Mediation Efforts
Amid the growing tensions, China has urged both sides to exercise restraint. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Afghanistan and Pakistan would reduce violence and begin direct dialogue. China’s special envoy for Afghanistan has also started visiting both countries to mediate between them.
“War Is in No One’s Interest,” Says Pakistani Leader
The Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan’s Senate and chairman of the Muslim Unity Assembly, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, said that war between Afghanistan and Pakistan would benefit no one. According to him, such a conflict would only increase instability in the region and cause greater suffering for ordinary people.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, stated that Afghanistan does not seek war with any country. However, he warned that if the country’s national sovereignty is violated, defending the nation would be necessary.
Pashtun Leaders Condemn the Attacks
Three major political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also issued a joint statement condemning Pakistan’s airstrikes on civilian areas in Afghanistan. The leaders described the situation as an “undeclared war,” noting that the greatest suffering is being endured by Pashtun civilians living on both sides of the Durand Line.
Analysts warn that unless immediate diplomatic talks are initiated, the border clashes could escalate into a wider regional crisis. For now, tensions remain high in several border areas, leaving local civilians to live under constant fear and uncertainty.
