Dozens killed in firefights between Pakistani and Afghan forces along border
Taliban troops attacked border posts in retaliation for a Pakistani air strike in Kabul this week
Afghanistan said on Sunday it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border operations, in response to what it called repeated violations of its territory and airspace.
Pakistan’s army gave far lower casualty figures, saying 23 troops were killed.
Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing the capital, Kabul, and a market in the country’s east. Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the assault.
The two countries share a 2,611-km (1,622-mile) border known as the Durand Line, but Afghanistan has never recognised it.
Firefights broke out along the border late on Saturday, with the Afghan Taliban attacking Pakistani posts, according to security officials from both nations.
The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan forces have captured 25 Pakistani army posts, leaving 30 Pakistani soldiers wounded.
Pakistani security officials said that they were responding “with full force” to what they called unprovoked firing from Afghanistan.