The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the “retaliatory attacks” against Pakistani posts and soldiers along the Durand Line ended at 12:00 a.m. local time in response to the recent airstrike in Kabul.
The statement added that the attacks were successfully carried out in response to the repeated violations of Afghanistan’s airspace by the Pakistani military.
It also warned that if the other side again violates Afghanistan’s sovereignty, a strong response will follow.
Tokram gate closed
Meanwhile, Qureshi Badloon, the Information Director of the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture in Nangarhar, said that the Pakistani side has closed the Torkham gate to transit, passengers, patients, and refugees.
According to Badloon, Pakistani forces shut the gate in reaction to last night’s attacks carried out by the Taliban on the opposite side of the border.
Meanwhile, several local sources report that the situation at Torkham is tense, with both sides on high alert and ready for possible clashes.
Another source informs that a large number of passengers, patients, and dozens of cargo trucks are stranded on both sides of the Torkham crossing, facing serious difficulties.
58 Pakistani military personnel killed
Clashes led to heavy casualties on the Pakistani side
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, also announced that in last night’s clashes between the Islamic Emirate forces and Pakistani military personnel, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others were wounded.
He added that a significant amount of weapons was also seized by the Islamic Emirate’s forces during the operation.
According to Mujahid, more than 20 members of the Islamic Emirate were also killed or wounded in the fighting.
Mujahid further stated that last night’s operation was halted at the request of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
