Border Clashes Kill 5 Pakistani Soldiers, 25 Militants Amid Afghanistan Peace Talks

Recent clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have resulted in the deaths of five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants, with Pakistani forces attributing the attackers to "Fitna al Khwarij," a militant group allegedly supported by foreign sponsors. These violent incidents occurred amid ongoing peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul, following a ceasefire brokered in Doha to end the deadliest fighting since the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Kabul. Pakistan has expressed skepticism about the Taliban government's commitment to curbing militant activity originating from Afghan soil, while the Taliban denies harboring militants and condemns Pakistani military operations as violations of Afghan sovereignty. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized that while the ceasefire holds, failure to reach a durable agreement in Istanbul could lead to "open war." The Pakistani military also highlighted that these infiltration attempts coincided with diplomatic efforts, casting doubt on Afghanistan's intentions. U.S. President Donald Trump commented that he would quickly resolve the crisis, indicating international attention on the conflict.