Pakistan Confirms Death of 23 Soldiers in Fierce Skirmish Along Durand Line

The Pakistani military has confirmed that 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 others wounded in intense clashes last night along the Durand Line. Although Pakistani officials have not specified the exact location of the fighting, reports indicate that the confrontations occurred in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern provinces of Afghanistan.

At the same time, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban administration, released a statement claiming that the group’s border forces responded to a Pakistani military attack, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and injuring 30 others in the battle. He added that nine Taliban-affiliated fighters were also killed during the clashes.

Military confrontations along the disputed Durand Line have increased in recent months, heightening tensions once again between Islamabad and Kabul. Many analysts attribute the escalation to the Taliban administration’s weak control over armed groups and Pakistan’s hostile policies.

With rising casualties on both sides in these border battles, concerns are growing over expanding insecurity in the border regions and the vulnerability of local residents. There are no signs of serious efforts by the Taliban administration to resolve these tensions.