New Afghan, Pakistani border clashes follow deadly strikes
Al Jazeera
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Afghan and Pakistani forces have clashed along their tense border region following deadly airstrikes by Pakistan on Afghanistan earlier in the week. Both sides accuse each other of initiating unprovoked fire, with conflicting accounts emerging about the latest violence near key border areas like Shahkot and Torkham. The situation has escalated significantly since October, when intense fighting killed over 70 people on both sides and shut down land crossings. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated further as they trade blame for cross-border attacks.
Afghan officials claim Pakistani forces fired first in the Shahkot area, while a Pakistani government spokesperson accused Afghan troops of attacking near Torkham, which Islamabad claims it responded to effectively. This exchange comes after Pakistan carried out air strikes on Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika Provinces over the weekend, killing at least 13 civilians according to UN reports. The Taliban government in Afghanistan denied Pakistani claims of targeting armed groups, instead accusing Islamabad of attacking religious schools and residential areas.
The ongoing tensions highlight the deepening crisis between the two neighbors. Pakistan claims its strikes targeted “camps and hideouts” linked to recent attacks, including a deadly suicide bombing at an Islamabad Shia mosque. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry condemned the strikes as targeting civilians and religious sites, vowing to respond with measured actions.
This conflict matters globally as it threatens regional stability in South Asia. The mutual accusations and military responses underscore the fragile state of relations between Afghanistan and
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/24/2026