October 14, 2025

Pakistani troops kept a sharp watch on the Afghanistan border on Monday, October 13, 2025, after weekend fights left dozens dead and shocked the world. The violent clashes happened on Saturday night, marking the deadliest conflict since the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021. Tensions flared as the two neighbors, once friends, accused each other of starting attacks. Pakistan claimed to have taken control of 19 Afghan posts, but the Taliban fired back, saying 58 Pakistani soldiers died. Both sides also reported their own losses. "23 of its soldiers were killed," said the Pakistan military, while the Taliban admitted to nine fighters dead. These numbers couldn't be verified. Pakistan closed all the border crossings along the long 2,600-km frontier. This trapped dozens of trucks and containers loaded with goods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Zia Ul Haq Sarhadi, senior vice president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said these stoppages caused "millions of rupees of losses" for the two countries and traders alike. Pakistan is the main source of many goods for poor, landlocked Afghanistan, making the closure a big problem. The clashes began after Pakistan demanded the Taliban stop militants attacking Pakistan from Afghan soil. The Taliban denied having Pakistani militants in Afghanistan. Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesman for Afghanistan’s defense ministry, said the border situation was "normal" on Sunday but gave no extra details. Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, speaking in New Delhi, said, "War is not a solution to problems. There is a need for dialogue. This has been our policy." He stressed that Afghanistan doesn't want to fight any neighbor and that most neighbors are happy with Kabul. The violence has caught the eye of former US President Donald Trump, who said from Air Force One, "I hear there's a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I said, I'll have to wait till I get back. You know, I'm doing another one, because I'm good at solving wars, I'm good at making peace." China, which touches both countries in its western region, also expressed concern. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, "China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in improving and developing Pakistan-Afghanistan relations." Adding a hopeful note, Kabul announced on Sunday that it had paused attacks after requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, signaling a chance for talks. But with borders closed and fears rising, all eyes are on whether peace can return or the conflict will grow further.

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Tags: Pakistan-afghanistan clash, Border fighting, Trade disruption, Donald trump, China mediation, Taliban,