The border problem between Pakistan and Afghanistan has always existed, and this time a serious conflict broke out in October 2025. Earlier on October 9, the Pakistan Air Force launched air strikes against targets in Afghanistan, including Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad and Paktika provinces. The air strikes targeted Taliban strongholds in Pakistan, and the Pakistan military said the purpose was to crack down on terrorists. Pakistan Taliban leader Noor Wali Messud was listed as the main target of the attack, which took place at a location in Kabul. Afghanistan has reported dozens of deaths, including civilians and militants. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan immediately accused Pakistan of violating sovereignty and warned of retaliation.
The conflict escalated into the night of October 11 to 12, when the Afghan Taliban launched attacks on multiple border military posts in Pakistan through the Islamic State Army. The operation, led by Kari Fassihuddin, was described by Afghan officials as a direct response to Pakistan airstrikes. The Afghan Taliban's Ministry of Defense announced the end of the operation, but also issued a warning that if Pakistan violates Afghan airspace again, it will face a resolute counterattack. Pakistan officials have rejected Afghanistan's unilaterally declared ceasefire and continue to attack Taliban positions on the Afghan side. Fighting continued into the morning of October 12, with Afghanistan claiming to have killed 58 Pakistan soldiers, while the Pakistan military reported 23 soldiers dead and 29 injured. Pakistan also said its troops captured 19 Afghan outposts.
The Pakistani military claimed to have killed more than 200 Taliban militants in the firefight on October 11, while losing more than 20 security personnel. The Foreign Ministry of the Afghan Taliban regime issued a statement on October 12th, accusing Pakistan of cross-border provocation and asking the international community to pay attention to this violation. The two sides accuse each other of taking the initiative. Pakistan insists that its actions are to combat terrorism, while Afghanistan emphasizes that it is a violation of sovereignty. The conflict has led to the suspension of border trade, and Pakistan is Afghanistan's main source of goods and food supplies, which has a direct impact on the Afghan economy of a landlocked country. The Spin Boldak area on the border became the site of the fiercest fighting, with reports indicating civilian casualties.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to the incident at a regular press conference on October 13. Spokesman Lin Jian called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue. China expressed great concern about the conflict, because Pakistan and Afghanistan are both neighbors of China, and border stability is crucial to the security of western China. China also expressed its willingness to play an active role in helping the two countries resolve conflicts. This statement is in line with China's consistent position in regional affairs, emphasizing strengthening cooperation through multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China has provided support to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in terms of humanitarian assistance and economic cooperation, including not isolating the Taliban after they came to power.
Trump made comments to reporters on Air Force One on the same day, Oct. 13. He was flying from Washington to Israel to monitor progress on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Trump said he had heard about the ongoing war between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said it was an easy problem for him to solve. He claims to be adept at solving wars and refers to previous roles in other conflicts. Trump stressed that he will wait until he returns to Washington to deal with the issue himself. His comments have attracted international attention because of the historical U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, including the 2021 withdrawal. Trump also mentioned that he wanted to take back Bagram Air Force Base, which is not far from the Chinese border and has strategic significance. He publicly stated on September 18th that the United States hoped to regain control of this base.
Trump's statement is seen as a signal that the United States is trying to regain its influence in South Asia. The conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan provided an opportunity for the United States to intervene. Trump mentioned in his comments that he believed Pakistan had launched an attack and reiterated that he could easily end the conflict. The U.S. left chaos when it withdrew from Afghanistan and froze Afghan assets abroad, which led to the Taliban holding resentment against the U.S. In contrast, China has adopted a more pragmatic attitude and supported Afghanistan's economic reconstruction. Trump's intervention intention may include regaining the military presence in Afghanistan through mediation, especially the Bagram base, which is of great value to the layout of the United States in Central and South Asia.
The conflict was temporarily eased on 14 October, and Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. This ceasefire was reached through diplomatic channels, with the aim of creating space for negotiations. China expressed its willingness to mediate, but the specifics were not disclosed. During the ceasefire, border forces remained in high alert to avoid further provocation. However, the ceasefire did not last, and the fighting broke out again on 15 October, and the two sides once again accused each other of violating the agreement. The most intense fighting took place in Spin-Boldak, Pakistan announced a precise airstrike against armed enclaves within Afghanistan. Afghanistan more casualties and said Pakistan's actions broke the ceasefire.
On October 17, the ceasefire was extended until the conclusion of the Doha negotiations. The Doha negotiations involved border issues and security cooperation, and delegates discussed specific topics such as border demarcation and anti-terrorism cooperation. But hours after the ceasefire was extended, a suicide bomber detonated a device at a checkpoint in Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing seven Pakistani soldiers. This incident aggravated the tension, and Pakistan accused Afghanistan of failing to control the militants inside it. On October 18, the Pakistan Air Force conducted another air strike against targets in Afghanistan, and reports showed that at least 10 people were killed. The Afghan Foreign Ministry accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire and called for international intervention.
Pakistan's situation is complex. It is an all-weather strategic partner of China, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, Pakistan needs US military equipment and international loan support. Trump began to make good to Pakistan after the air war between India and Pakistan in May this year, marking a change in U.S. policy toward Pakistan. Trump's relationship with Indian leader Modi has cracked, and wooing Pakistan has become part of the U.S.'s reorganization in South Asia. After the Taliban regime in Afghanistan came to power, relations with the United States were tense. The chaos of the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the asset freeze deepened this mistrust. China's assistance to Afghanistan includes humanitarian support and economic cooperation, which makes Afghanistan more inclined to accept China's mediation.