The Pakistani government ordered a full closure of all border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday after overnight clashes that left dozens dead on both sides.

The decision affects the key crossings of Torkham in Khyber Paktunkhwa and Chaman in Balochistan. “All border points are closed until further notice,” a Pakistani security official told EFE, as sporadic gunfire continued along the frontier. 

Fighting broke out late Saturday when Pakistani forces accused Afghan border guards of launching “unprovoked fire” along the Durand Line. In retaliation, Pakistan’s army struck Taliban positions, triggering heavy exchanges of fire.

Kabul later claimed its troops killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and wounded 30 others. 

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces captured 25 Pakistani outposts and that “the situation along all official and de facto borders is under full control.” He described the operations as retaliation for Pakistan’s “repeated violations” of Afghan airspace and territory. 

Islamabad has not confirmed any casualties and accused the Taliban regime of deliberately escalating tensions to distract from its domestic problems. Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif condemned what he called “Afghan provocations” and vowed that “any aggression will meet a strong response.”

He also reiterated accusations that Afghanistan harbors “terrorist elements” from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group blamed for numerous attacks. Relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP fighters, while Afghanistan accuses Islamabad of cross-border raids and airstrikes. With the border sealed and both sides trading threats, South Asia faces one of its most dangerous flashpoints in recent years.