Intense Gunfire Between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Border, Both Claim Heavy Casualties on Each Side

Xinhua News Agency Islamabad/Kabul, February 27 (Reporters Yang Kai, Li Ang) Fierce gunfire broke out on the evening of the 26th at the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan reported that 36 armed personnel from Afghanistan were killed, while Afghanistan claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed. In the early hours of the 27th, Pakistan launched airstrikes, and the conflict is still ongoing.

Afghan government spokesman Mujahid stated on social media on the evening of the 26th that in response to the "provocation" by the Pakistani military, Afghan forces targeted military facilities in the border areas of Pakistan. By 10 PM that evening, Afghan forces had seized 15 military outposts from Pakistan.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense announced late on the 26th that Afghan military operations in the border areas had resulted in the deaths of 55 Pakistani soldiers.

The Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement on the 26th, claiming that Afghanistan had "misjudged the situation" and had "unprovoked" shelling at multiple locations in the border area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, to which Pakistan responded effectively, resulting in Afghan armed personnel being struck at multiple locations. Preliminary reports indicate heavy casualties for Afghanistan, with several outposts and equipment destroyed.

Pakistan's Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, stated on social media in the early hours of the 27th that at least 36 Afghan armed personnel had been killed in the ongoing border conflict, while 2 Pakistani security personnel had lost their lives.

According to Afghan media reports, the provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Nangarhar, which border Pakistan in eastern Afghanistan, have been experiencing intermittent gunfire in recent days.

Since October of last year, there have been multiple instances of gunfire in the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan. On October 19 of last year, under the mediation of Qatar and Turkey, both sides agreed to a ceasefire, and subsequently held several rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul, and Riyadh to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire, but no results were achieved.