15 Pakistani soldiers killed as Taliban retaliates to airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province

15 Pakistani Troops Killed in Taliban Counteroffensive Along Afghanistan Border

October 12, 2025

Afghan Forces Capture Pakistani Outposts, Kill 15 Soldiers in Border Clash

Taliban retaliates against Pakistan strikes; Muttaqi in India says Afghanistan cleared of terror groups

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply escalated after Taliban forces launched retaliatory attacks on Pakistani military positions along the border, killing at least 15 soldiers, even as Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi — currently visiting India — declared that his country has wiped out all terrorist groups operating from its soil.

According to the Helmand provincial administration, Taliban-led Afghan forces carried out retaliatory strikes late Friday in the Bahrampur district near the Durand Line. “Fifteen Pakistani soldiers were killed during the operations, and three Pakistani military outposts were captured. Weapons and ammunition have also been seized,” said provincial spokesperson Mawlawi Mohammad Qasim Riaz.

The assault followed a series of Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory, including in the capital Kabul and Paktika province, which Islamabad said targeted militant hideouts. Kabul condemned the strikes as a “violation of sovereignty” and warned of “strong consequences.”

Afghan forces have since intensified operations across multiple border provinces — Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar — all adjoining Pakistan. The latest clashes mark one of the most serious flare-ups between the two nations since the Taliban took power in 2021.

Amid the escalating border tensions, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi for his first official visit, marking a significant diplomatic development between India and the Taliban-led administration. During his talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Muttaqi claimed that no foreign terror groups, including Pakistan-based outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, currently operate from Afghan territory.

Delivering a pointed message to Pakistan from Indian soil, he added, “Let other countries also act against such terror groups like Afghanistan did — for peace.”

Muttaqi also accused Pakistan of orchestrating a recent blast in Kabul, further souring ties between the two neighbours. His visit coincided with India’s announcement that it will reopen its embassy in Kabul, upgrading the existing Technical Mission.

Jaishankar said India remains “deeply interested” in Afghanistan’s development and stability, adding that closer cooperation would benefit both nations and the wider region.

The simultaneous military escalation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and diplomatic outreach to India underscore the Taliban government’s evolving foreign policy strategy — one that mixes assertive defence of sovereignty with a push for broader international engagement.

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