Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid claimed his forces killed at least 58 Pakistani soldiers and wounded over 30 in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line in Behrampur, warning Islamabad that no attack would go unanswered. Accusing Pakistan of turning a blind eye to ISIS elements allegedly sheltering on its territory, Mujahid urged authorities to expel or hand over key militants to the Islamic Emirate, asserting there is documented evidence of recruitment and training centers operating via Karachi and Islamabad.

He maintained that the Afghan side had cleared its own territory of troublemakers, but that new bases were established across the border and used to plan attacks inside Afghanistan. Defending the strikes, Mujahid said a cache of weapons fell into the Islamic Emirate hands, though he acknowledged more than 20 of his fighters were killed or wounded in the clashes.

The air campaign was halted after appeals from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, saying the Pakistan Army delivered a response, destroyed several Afghan posts and forced Taliban fighters to retreat, vowing there would be no compromise on national defence. The exchanges underscore rising tensions along the border provinces where both sides have intermittently struck posts again.

Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid claimed his forces killed at least 58 Pakistani soldiers and wounded over 30 in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line in Behrampur, warning Islamabad that no attack would go unanswered. Accusing Pakistan of turning a blind eye to ISIS elements allegedly sheltering on its territory, Mujahid urged authorities to expel or hand over key militants to the Islamic Emirate, asserting there is documented evidence of recruitment and training centers operating via Karachi and Islamabad.

He maintained that the Afghan side had cleared its own territory of troublemakers, but that new bases were established across the border and used to plan attacks inside Afghanistan. Defending the strikes, Mujahid said a cache of weapons fell into the Islamic Emirate hands, though he acknowledged more than 20 of his fighters were killed or wounded in the clashes.

The air campaign was halted after appeals from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, saying the Pakistan Army delivered a response, destroyed several Afghan posts and forced Taliban fighters to retreat, vowing there would be no compromise on national defence. The exchanges underscore rising tensions along the border provinces where both sides have intermittently struck posts again.