Tensions Escalate: Taliban Claims Capture of Pakistani Tanks Amid Border Ceasefire

A temporary ceasefire was established Thursday along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border following intense clashes.

In Kabul, prior to the 48-hour truce agreement between Islamabad and Kabul, social media was flooded with videos depicting tanks moving rapidly through Afghanistan's southeastern Spin Boldak province streets. These viral videos suggested that Taliban forces had seized these tanks from Pakistani military during Wednesday's border confrontations.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X claiming that Afghan forces had retaliated against Pakistani fire in border regions, resulting in "a large number" of Pakistani soldier casualties. He further asserted that Afghan forces captured "Pakistani weapons and tanks" and destroyed military installations belonging to Pakistan.

Pakistan has refuted these claims, with Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stating during a Geo News interview, "They are showing videos claiming they have captured a Pakistani tank; we do not have those tanks in our inventory. They probably bought it from some junk dealer."

NDTV could not independently verify the video authenticity. An AI search indicated the vehicle shown was a Soviet-era T-55 tank, which has been part of Afghanistan's military inventory since the 1980s.

The recently implemented ceasefire along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border was holding Thursday, following a weekend of cross-border violence that resulted in dozens of military and civilian casualties. The 48-hour truce aims to provide time for "finding a positive solution through constructive dialogue," according to Islamabad's statement.

In Spin Boldak, a central location of recent fighting on the Afghan side, residents were returning to homes they had abandoned during the conflict, as reported by AFP.

Relations between the neighboring countries deteriorated as Pakistan experienced increased attacks against its security forces along its western border with Afghanistan, primarily conducted by Pakistani Taliban members and affiliated groups.

Islamabad has accused Kabul of providing sanctuary to terrorists who plan frequent attacks from Afghan territory—allegations the Taliban government denies.

The cross-border conflicts escalated after reported air strikes on the Afghan capital, which Kabul attributed to Pakistan. Following intense clashes, key border crossings between the two nations were closed. Afghan officials reported killing 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight border operations, while Pakistan placed this figure at 23. Pakistani forces reportedly captured 19 Afghan border posts, according to Al Jazeera.