Pakistan delivers fitting response to unprovoked Afghanistan assault

ISLAMABAD: Tensions flared along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Saturday after what officials in Islamabad described as an unprovoked attack by Afghan forces on several Pakistani military posts.

According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the assault was a “minor-level coordinated kinetic action” launched from the Afghan side, prompting a swift and proportional retaliatory response by the Pakistan Armed Forces.

Also read: Pak Army responds forcefully to unprovoked Afghan firing along border

In a statement issued late Saturday night, the ISPR said Pakistan had “employed multi-domain military force” to target and neutralise all identified threats across the border. Several Afghan posts were reportedly destroyed by Pakistani artillery fire as well.

Pakistani security sources said that the aggression was part of a broader regional plan backed by India to facilitate infiltration by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Officials also accused Kabul of harbouring and supporting terrorist elements responsible for cross-border violence. Kabul’s puppets are only serving India’s dirty agenda by sheltering and supporting TTP terrorists against Pakistan. Pakistan’s armed forces are giving a strong and deserved reply.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) later announced a unilateral ceasefire, which Pakistan has declined to accept, citing ongoing security concerns and the need to ensure stability along its borders.

REGIONAL POWERS URGE RESTRAINT

The escalation has drawn concern from several regional partners, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, both of which have urged restraint and dialogue to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

In a statement on Sunday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the clashes, calling on both nations to “avoid escalation” and reaffirming the Kingdom’s support for efforts promoting regional peace and stability.

#بيان | تتابع المملكة العربية السعودية بقلق التوترات والاشتباكات التي تشهدها المناطق الحدودية بين جمهورية باكستان الإسلامية ودولة أفغانستان. pic.twitter.com/TSj5Hv0FAI

— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) October 11, 2025

Similarly, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued from Doha on October 11, called on Islamabad and Kabul to prioritise diplomacy and “work toward containing differences in a manner that helps reduce tension and achieve regional security.” Qatar reiterated its commitment to supporting peace and prosperity for the “brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Also read: Pakistan voices strong concerns over India-Afghanistan joint statement

Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated periodically in recent years, often linked to cross-border militancy and disputes over territorial boundaries. Pakistan maintains that its military operations are defensive in nature, aimed at preventing terrorist infiltration and protecting national sovereignty.

As of Sunday morning, the situation along the frontier remained tense, and Pakistani defenses remain fully mobilised and prepared to respond to any further provocations.