At least eight people have been killed and 13 others, including civilians, have been injured in border confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan as tensions between the two countries have intensified. The ongoing conflict, which continued until late Saturday night, occurred between the two countries, once thought to be allies as relations became strained.

The violence began after intense gunfire, reportedly sparked by Pakistan's targeted airstrikes earlier in the week on alleged Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. Pakistani security officials stated that these strikes were in response to a failed attempt by militants to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan. On Friday night, Pakistani forces stopped militants trying to cross the border. The next morning, these militants allegedly joined Afghan forces to launch coordinated attacks on Pakistani border posts. They used both light and heavy weapons in areas like Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha and Tari Mengal.

In response, Pakistani forces fought back, reportedly causing significant losses to the attackers and forcing them to retreat. However, the clashes resulted in the death of one Frontier Corps soldier and injuries to 11 others. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP militants, who have been carrying out more attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent months. These attacks, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan areas, have raised security concerns in Islamabad. Pakistan has urged the Afghan government to take strong action against the TTP, but it said that talks between the two countries cannot happen while the violence continues. Tensions increased after Pakistan's airstrikes on December 24 in the Barmal district of Paktika, which reportedly killed at least 46 people, including women and children. The Taliban's defence ministry condemned the strikes, calling them an attack on civilians and promising to retaliate.

On the same day that the airstrikes occurred, a Pakistani delegation headed by Special Representative Muhammad Sadiq met Afghan leaders in Kabul in an effort to reestablish diplomatic relations following a one-year break. Nevertheless, the Afghan authorities formally protested the attacks, claiming that Pakistan was focusing on civilians instead of insurgents. The growing conflict comes after the TTP ended a ceasefire with Pakistan in November 2022. Since then, TTP attacks have killed many Pakistani soldiers, making relations between the two countries even worse. 

The recent border violence, involving both airstrikes and ground clashes, highlights increasing tension between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan keeps asking Afghanistan to take action against the TTP, while the Afghan Taliban denies sheltering militants. They also accuse Pakistan of attacking civilians under the pretext of counterterrorism operations.