Durand Line Explodes: What’s behind latest Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes on one of world’s most dangerous borders

File photo of Afghan Border Police personnel near the Durand line at Spin Boldak in southern Kandahar province. (AFP)

Durand Line, one of the most dangerous borderlands in the world, plunged into a fresh crisis as Afghanistan stunned Pakistan with retaliatory military action carried out late on Saturday night.

Confirming the development, Taliban government’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Afghan forces killed as many as 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured over 30 others.

Taliban forces also claimed that they had captured around 30 Pakistani posts. On the other hand, Pakistan said that no ‘provocation’ will go unanswered.

In a statement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks on the border areas. With tensions simmering and the threat of it exploding into a bigger crisis, here are all the questions answered.

The Durand Line is the internationally recognized boundary stretching approximately 2,640 kilometers (1,640 miles) between Afghanistan and Pakistan, running from the Iranian border in the west to the Chinese border in the east. It was established in 1893 under an agreement between Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, then the foreign secretary of British India, and Emir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan, to define their respective spheres of influence and improve diplomatic ties.

The border divides the Pashtun tribal regions and Baloch territories, separating communities and families across both sides. This has made it a long-standing source of political, ethnic, and territorial tension between the two nations. While Pakistan officially recognizes the Durand Line as its western frontier, no Afghan government has ever accepted it as an international boundary, maintaining that it was imposed during colonial rule.

Afghanistan carried out the attack on Pakistani posts in response to the bombings in capital Kabul on Thursday. While Islamabad never took the responsibility of the airstrikes, it accused the Afghan Taliban of being safe haven for Pakistani Taliban fighters who attack Pakistan, with India’s support.

The Taliban government’s Defense Ministry said early Sunday morning its forces had conducted “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border.

“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. Afghanistan’s Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said a “significant amount” of Pakistani weapons also fell into the hands of the Afghan forces. The remark was posted by TOLO news agency posted on X.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the Afghan attacks as “unprovoked,” alleging that civilians were also targeted. He warned that Pakistan’s forces would respond “with a stone for every brick.”

Last week, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told parliament on Thursday that repeated attempts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had failed. “Enough is enough,” Asif declared. “The patience of the Pakistani government and army has run out.”

In fact, Pakistan has accused India of exploiting Afghanistan as a base for orchestrating terrorism on its soil — a charge that came as the Taliban regime deepens its diplomatic engagement with New Delhi.

During a press conference in Peshawar, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry outlined the country’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He alleged that “Indian proxies” were operating from Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan and claimed that Islamabad had provided Kabul with “proof and evidence” of such activities.

“Pakistan has strong evidence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s terror operations originating from Afghanistan,” Chaudhry said, as quoted by News18. “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government must safeguard its citizens instead of pleading with Afghanistan for security. Indian proxies are using Afghan soil to conduct terrorism against Pakistan.”

A BBC report says heavy firing was reported from Kurram, Angoor Adda, Chitral Bajaur, Baramcha and Dir.

Latest reports suggest the 201st Khalid Bin Walid Army Corps of Taliban forces, provincial border guard units are part of the skirmishes. On the other hand, regular Pakistan Army units, Frontier Corps have been fighting with Taliban forces. The attacks involve use of artillery, tanks and small arms. Some reports suggest that Islamabad has deployed anti-drone resources.

Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says that Kabul has stopped the firing after mediation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. However, unconfirmed reports say that Pakistan has launched drone attacks in Kandahar.