12 civilians dead, over 100 injured after Pakistani forces attack in Afghanistan; Kabul responds with retaliatory strikes
At least 12 civilians were killed and more than 100 injured following an attack by Pakistani forces in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on October 15, 2025, according to Afghan officials, reports 24brussels.
The incident has escalated into intense cross-border fighting, with Afghan forces claiming to have retaliated by launching strikes that targeted multiple Pakistani military positions. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, accused Pakistani forces of indiscriminately firing both light and heavy weapons at civilian areas.
“Unfortunately, this morning, Pakistani forces once again launched attacks with light and heavy weapons on Afghanistan in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, as a result of which more than 12 civilians were martyred and more than 100 were injured,” Mujahid stated. In retaliation, Afghan forces initiated operations aimed at Pakistani military installations along the contested border.
“In retaliatory operations, multiple Pakistani aggressor soldiers were killed, their posts and centres were captured, weapons and tanks fell into the hands of Afghan forces, and most of their military installations were destroyed,” Mujahid noted. While independent verification of Pakistani casualties remains unconfirmed, Mujahid asserted that Afghan forces dealt significant damage to Pakistani military assets.
“As a result, a large number of Pakistani invading soldiers were killed, their posts and centres were captured, weapons and tanks were seized from them, and most of their military facilities were also destroyed,” he added. “At 8 o’clock, the battle was brought back under our control, but the mujahideen, with high morale, are ready to defend their homeland, sanctity, and people,” Mujahid concluded.
The Spin Boldak border crossing, a historically tense area between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has seen previous conflicts. Following the primary incident, clashes reportedly reignited later that night in Pakistan’s Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. State broadcaster PTV News reported that “Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij opened unprovoked fire in Kurram. Pakistani Army responded with full force and intensity,” citing security sources on X.
The term Fitna al-Khawarij refers to militants linked with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). PTV reported severe damage to Taliban regime positions, including the destruction of a tank which led to Taliban fighters fleeing. Furthermore, it was reported that another Afghan Taliban post and tank position were destroyed in the Kurram sector, with claims of an important TTP commander being killed during these operations.
