Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes resumed with intense fighting on Wednesday after a brief calm. The Taliban mobilized about 700 troops to launch a surprise attack on a key border checkpoint in Pakistan, which was met with a fierce counterattack by the Pakistani military. After about 48 hours of fierce fighting, both sides announced a temporary ceasefire by the evening of the 19th. In this conflict, the Pakistani army, relying on the technological advantages of the Chinese-style combat system, including the Rainbow and CH-4B drones, the JF-17 "FC-1" fighter jets, and precision-guided weapons, inflicted significant damage on the Taliban forces, which could be described as one-sided slaughter.
Independent military media Rybar reported that since the 14th, the Taliban had gathered forces in the provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, and Paktia within Afghanistan. By early morning on the 15th, Taliban forces attacked the Pakistani military posts at the Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing, one of the largest border passages into Pakistan.
The Pakistani military immediately launched a full-scale counterattack, using artillery, drones, and even fighter jets to retaliate, and successfully recaptured the attacked positions after midnight. The fire quickly spread to southern areas such as Shorok and Zazi Maidan.
In subsequent battles, the technological superiority of the Pakistani military was fully demonstrated. The Pakistani military widely used Chinese-made "CH-4" and "Rainbow-4B" drones, as well as JF-17 "FC-1" and F-16 fighter jets, conducting continuous air strikes and precise bombings on Taliban positions, armored vehicles, and command centers.
On the ground, the Pakistani SH-15 truck-mounted guns continued to roar, bombarding Taliban border outposts and gathering areas with intense artillery fire.
Social media footage showed that the Pakistani military used anti-tank missiles and tanks to destroy at least eight Taliban armored vehicles and several border outposts. According to Pakistan's claim, the firefight has killed approximately 70 to 80 Taliban fighters, while seven Pakistani soldiers were killed. Analysts pointed out that based on existing footage, the Pakistani military's claims of battlefield achievements are relatively credible.
During the conflict, the Pakistani Air Force conducted a precise strike on the headquarters of the Afghan Taliban in the Shorabak area of Kandahar province. According to Pakistani reports, the air strike caused casualties among several senior Taliban officers on the front lines, with about 30 personnel killed or trapped under the rubble.
Additionally, satellite images released by the United States also confirmed that a major Taliban base called "Asmat Ula Kalar" near the Spin Boldak border in Afghanistan was severely damaged in the Pakistani air strike. Multiple impact points and building collapse traces can be seen within the camp.
Notably, according to Pakistani sources, the Pakistani Army Aviation's armed helicopters have already crossed the border and carried out strike missions over Afghanistan. The Pakistani Army Aviation currently operates US-made AH-1 attack helicopters and the newly received Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters. If it is later confirmed that the Z-10ME has been deployed in combat, this will be the first combat record for this Chinese-made attack helicopter, which is of great significance.
After about 48 hours of fierce fighting, both sides announced a 48-hour ceasefire at 9 p.m. Beijing Time on the evening of the 15th, believed to allow the Taliban to evacuate the dead and wounded. To cope with the conflict, Pakistan has temporarily closed all important border crossings, including Chaman-Spin Boldak. This move is a significant economic blow to the Taliban regime, which relies on border trade for survival.
This 48-hour ceasefire, which was agreed upon, is actually very unstable. Whether it can turn into a long-term peace depends on one unresolved core issue: whether the Afghan Taliban will give a clear statement and take real action regarding the "Pakistan Taliban." The Pakistani side has long accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban militants, enabling them to launch attacks on Pakistan from within Afghanistan. The large-scale cross-border strike by the Pakistani military aims to eliminate these threats.
Therefore, the future development of the situation will depend on two key points: on one hand, whether the Afghan Taliban is willing and able to restrain or eradicate the Pakistani Taliban forces within its territory; on the other hand, whether Pakistan will make the "cross-border counter-terrorism" operations in Afghanistan a regular practice. If the Afghan Taliban continues to respond passively to the issue of the Pakistani Taliban, Pakistan is likely to continue using its air power and technological advantages to enter Afghan airspace for counter-terrorism missions. Such unilateral actions will lead the border region into a cycle of "ceasefire - cross-border strikes - renewed conflict," posing a significant security risk to the region.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563136529451729447/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author and is not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [Upvote/Downvote] buttons below.