5 Pak soldiers, 25 fighters killed in fresh border clashes amid peace talks

New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 27, 2025 07:24 IST

Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 fighters were killed in clashes near the Afghanistan border, the Islamabad military said Sunday, as delegations from both countries met in Istanbul to ease tensions following the deadliest fighting in years.

The militants attempted to cross from Afghanistan on Friday and Saturday in the rugged Kurram and North Waziristan districts along Pakistan’s northwestern frontier, according to the Pakistani military’s media wing. Islamabad said the infiltrations cast doubt on Afghanistan’s commitment to addressing terrorism emanating from its territory.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban government’s spokesperson and defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Taliban denies sheltering militants and has condemned Pakistan’s operations as violations of Afghan sovereignty.

The clashes followed earlier fighting this month, triggered when Pakistan demanded that the Taliban rein in militants operating from Afghan sanctuaries. The confrontation led to heavy exchanges of fire and Pakistani airstrikes, killing dozens and prompting the closure of key border crossings. Both sides reached a truce in Doha last Sunday.

PAK DEFENCE MINISTER WARNS OF 'OPEN WAR'

Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, said on Saturday that the truce was holding and that Afghanistan appeared to want peace. But he warned that failure to reach a durable agreement in Istanbul would mean “open war.”

Pakistan’s military described the attackers as members of “Fitna al Khwarij,” a term used for groups inspired by militant ideology and allegedly backed by “foreign sponsors.” The Istanbul talks, continuing into Sunday, aim to enforce the Doha ceasefire long term.

Khawaja Asif said both sides had complied with the truce so far. “We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” he said. “But I saw that they want peace.

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