In a significant escalation, Pakistani and Taliban forces exchanged gunfire at the border in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, marking the first known direct confrontation between the two sides. The clash occurred near Doklam on the Kunar border when Pakistani troops attempted to enter the area to launch an operation targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants believed to be sheltering there. Taliban forces resisted this incursion, leading to heavy firing with several Taliban soldiers reportedly injured.

The Pakistani military claims around 6,000 TTP fighters are hiding in Afghanistan and insists on conducting special operations—including air and ground offensives—to eliminate these militants. However, Afghanistan condemns Pakistan's actions as a violation of its sovereignty.

Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have been deteriorating over recent months. Pakistan recently deported over 300,000 Afghan refugees to Kabul, causing diplomatic strain. Additionally, the fate of the strategic Bagram Air Base has become a point of contention involving the United States, Pakistan, and the Taliban. Pakistan’s Army Chief and Prime Minister recently traveled to the US amid US pressure on the Taliban regarding Bagram. Meanwhile, Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring terrorists and fears US intervention using the terrorism claim as a pretext—a concern underscored by recent remarks from US President Donald Trump threatening action over Bagram.

The border clash is the latest in a series of ongoing skirmishes and reflects the fragile and tense relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghanistan, with serious implications for regional stability and security.