TL;DR:
- Taliban accuses Pakistan of sheltering ISIS and violating Afghan sovereignty.
- Taliban claims killing 58 Pakistani soldiers; Pakistan reports 23 soldiers killed and 200 Taliban fighters neutralized.
- Border clashes escalate along Durand Line, causing casualties and border closures.
- President Trump pledges to end the conflict after current Middle East peace efforts.
- Qatar and Saudi Arabia mediate temporary ceasefire.
What Happened
- Taliban accused Pakistan of hosting ISIS-K leaders and training camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said:
- Taliban claims it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, injured 30, and captured 25 Pakistani posts in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line.
- Pakistan disputes this, saying 23 of its soldiers were killed and over 200 Taliban fighters neutralized.
- Fighting erupted after alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province on October 9–10, targeting TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud.
"Pakistan has turned a blind eye to the presence of ISIS on its soil. Afghanistan has the right to defend its air and land borders and will not leave any attack unanswered."
Military and Border Impact
- Clashes involved artillery, small arms, and airstrikes in Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan, including Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar.
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated:
- Major border crossings (Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, Ghulam Khan) were closed on October 12, stranding civilians and traders.
- Telecom outages in border areas reported.
"There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defence, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response."
Who Said What
- Taliban accused Pakistan of aiding ISIS operatives planning attacks in Tehran and Moscow.
- Zabihullah Mujahid alleged militants were trained via Karachi and Islamabad airports, and stated:
- Pakistan denied hosting ISIS and accused the Taliban of sheltering Pakistani Taliban (TTP).
- Taliban warned of "very negative consequences" for further border violations but left room for dialogue under Islamic law.
“Recruits were brought to these centers for training... there is documented evidence of this.”
Trump’s Statement
- On October 12, 2025, President Donald Trump said aboard Air Force One:
- He framed it as his eighth peace intervention, following efforts in Israel-Hamas and India-Pakistan conflicts.
- Trump plans to intervene after concluding a Gaza ceasefire mission.
"Another war between Pakistan and Afghanistan... I’ll solve it next.""I’m good at solving wars."
International Response
- Qatar and Saudi Arabia facilitated a temporary pause in fighting on October 12.
- Russia, China, India, Iran, and Central Asian states, via the Moscow Format, condemned foreign military bases in Afghanistan, indirectly addressing the conflict.
- India expressed concern about the instability near Kashmir amid closer ties with the Taliban.
Current Status (as of October 13, 2025)
- Fighting paused briefly but resumed after Pakistan resumed firing.
- No independent verification of casualty claims due to restricted access.
- Situation remains tense, with ongoing artillery exchanges and international diplomatic efforts underway.