Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Erupts In Deadly Clashes; Trump Offers To Mediate

News in Short (60 words): Afghanistan

Fierce weekend clashes between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces left dozens dead and shut down border trade as Pakistan sealed crossings along the 2,600-km frontier. Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering militants attacking Pakistan, a charge the Taliban denies. The fighting drew U.S. President Donald Trump’s attention, who said he was ready to help end the conflict.

News in Detail: afghanistan

Pakistani troops remained on high alert along the Afghan border on Monday following one of the deadliest clashes between the two sides since the Taliban seized power in 2021. The fierce fighting over the weekend killed dozens and forced Pakistan to close all border crossings, disrupting trade and stranding hundreds of vehicles.

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The skirmishes, which erupted Saturday night, stemmed from Islamabad’s demand that the Taliban take decisive action against militants who have stepped up attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad claims these groups — particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — operate from safe havens within Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, has denied the presence of such militants on its soil.

“All entry points are closed since Saturday following unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban forces,” a senior Pakistani security official told Reuters. Another official said there were minor exchanges of small-arms fire on Sunday night but added that the overall situation had calmed.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s defense ministry, said the “current situation” along the border was normal but declined to elaborate.

The closure of crossings along the 2,600-kilometer frontier has brought border trade to a complete halt. Government offices managing customs and trade operations have also been shut, according to Pakistani officials.

“Loaded vehicles, including containers and trucks, are stuck on both sides of the border,” said Zia Ul Haq Sarhadi, senior vice president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Besides fresh fruit and vegetables, they are carrying imports, exports, and transit goods, causing millions of rupees in losses to both countries and traders.”

Pakistan serves as a critical supplier of essential goods, food, and fuel to landlocked Afghanistan. The prolonged closure threatens to exacerbate shortages in Afghan markets and further strain relations between the two uneasy neighbors.

The Pakistani military said 23 of its soldiers were killed in the weekend clashes. The Taliban reported nine of its fighters dead. However, both sides have claimed to inflict much higher casualties on the other — claims that remain unverified. Pakistan alleged that its forces killed more than 200 Afghan Taliban and allied fighters, while Kabul said it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers.

Amid rising regional concern, Afghanistan’s defense ministry announced Sunday that it had paused attacks at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both of whom reportedly urged restraint to prevent further escalation.

The border violence has also drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who told reporters aboard Air Force One that he intends to focus on the issue soon.
“I hear there’s a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Trump said as he flew from Washington to Israel. “I said, I’ll have to wait till I get back. You know, I’m good at solving wars, I’m good at making peace.”

The latest confrontation underscores the deepening mistrust between Pakistan and the Taliban government in Kabul. Once allies during the Taliban’s rise to power, the two countries now accuse each other of harboring militants and destabilizing the border regions. Analysts warn that continued hostilities could not only disrupt trade but also ignite a broader regional security crisis.

For now, while border posts remain shuttered and trade grinds to a standstill, both sides appear to be recalibrating — wary of sparking a larger conflict but unwilling to concede on security concerns that cut to the heart of their fragile relationship.