Pakistan sealed border crossings with Afghanistan amid heavy overnight fire exchanges between the two countries, Pakistani officials said on Sunday.
The Torkham crossing in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in the south-western province of Balochistan have been closed, security officials said.
Pakistani media report Afghan border posts attacked with jets, tanks
Pakistan's local media said its security forces had captured at least 19 Afghan border posts using heavy artillery, tanks, fighter jets and drones.
Both Pakistani officials and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan claim to have inflicted heavy losses on the opposing side, though the fighting seems to have largely ended for now.
"The firing by Afghan forces on civilian populations is a blatant violation of international laws," Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement issued by his ministry on X.
"By giving a swift and effective response, Pakistan's brave forces have proven that no provocation will be tolerated,” he said.
Naqvi also warned that Afghanistan was "playing a game of fire and blood” and would be "given a befitting reply like India, so that it will not dare to look at Pakistan with a malicious eye," referring to the brief conflict with India this May. Both Islamabad and New Delhi claimed victory in the clashes and to have inflicted far higher losses on the other side.
The Pakistan military said that 23 of its soldiers were killed in the clashes and that it killed more than 200 Afghan fighters. For its part, the Taliban said nine soldiers on its side were killed while also claiming to have killed 58 Pakistani troops.
Afghanistan: Situation under complete control
The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said its forces have captured 25 Pakistani army posts in the overnight clash.
"The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented," Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul.
"If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan's territorial integrity, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation's borders and will deliver a strong response," the ministry added.