Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has claimed to have killed at least 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured around 30 others in retaliatory strikes following Pakistan’s recent air raids inside Afghan territory, including the capital Kabul.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in an X post on Sunday that Afghan forces had seized a large cache of Pakistani weapons during the operation. He added that more than 20 members of the Afghan Taliban forces were either killed or injured in the clashes.

Pakistan has yet to comment on the Afghan government’s claims.

Earlier, Helmand provincial government spokesperson Maulvi Mohammad Qasim Riaz told local media that on Saturday night (Oct 11), Afghan forces launched counterattacks near the Durand Line in Bahramcha district, killing 15 Pakistani soldiers. He said Afghan forces had captured three Pakistani military outposts and seized weapons and ammunition.

Citing Afghanistan’s state media, AP reported that more than a dozen Pakistani soldiers were killed in the counteroffensive. Islamabad, however, has not made any statement regarding the reports.

The retaliatory strikes came after the Taliban government vowed revenge for Thursday’s alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Paktika province.

Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the air raids, but urged Kabul to stop providing shelter to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it describes as an “anti-Pakistan terrorist group.”

According to NDTV, Afghan forces launched attacks late Saturday night targeting Pakistani security posts in Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar and Kunar — provinces that lie along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarazmi said the operation was a direct response to Pakistan’s “violation of Afghan airspace,” adding that the assault concluded around midnight local time.

If the opposing side once again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend it and will respond firmly,” he warned.

Meanwhile, citing security sources, Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV reported on Sunday that Pakistani security forces had captured 19 Afghan border posts in response to the Taliban’s attacks.

According to the sources, several Taliban fighters stationed at those posts were killed while others fled. Some posts reportedly caught fire during the clashes.

Radio Pakistan also reported that the Pakistani military had completely destroyed the Taliban’s Manojbah Camp Battalion Headquarters, Zandusir Post, Turkmenzai Camp and Kharchar Fort.

The report added that the Afghan side had attempted to push Khawariz formations across the border into Pakistan, but alert and well-prepared Pakistani outposts responded swiftly and forcefully.

Sources: Agencies