Leaked Taliban documents obtained from the hacking group Talibleaks has revealed that Pakistani forces committed 55 airspace violations and engaged in cross-border clashes along the Durand Line within just 17 days in August 2024.
On 23 August 2024, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent multiple letters to its embassy in Islamabad, detailing these violations and formally protesting to the Pakistani government.
According to these documents, Pakistani military jets and drones conducted at least 22 aerial patrols over Afghan territory between 3 and 20 August 2024. The air patrols took place over Paktika, Helmand, Nangarhar, Khost, Kunar, and Kandahar provinces, lasting several hours. However, the Taliban’s records do not specify the purpose of these incursions.
The leaked documents further indicate that Pakistani border guards fired into Afghan territory more than 30 times during the same period. In several instances, Pakistani forces launched multiple attacks in a single day, using light and heavy weapons, including mortars and DShK machine guns.
The Taliban claimed that these attacks targeted residential homes, military installations, and Taliban personnel. Some reports suggest that Taliban border patrols came under direct fire, while in other cases, Pakistani forces attempted to install border barriers without prior coordination. When Taliban border guards objected, Pakistani troops responded with gunfire.
In its formal complaint to Islamabad, the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Pakistan’s repeated airspace violations and border attacks. The ministry expressed its serious concerns over Pakistani intelligence aircraft patrolling Afghan airspace and the escalation of hostilities along the Durand Line.
Despite officially documenting these violations and urging Pakistan to prevent further incidents, no tangible progress has been made. The Taliban warned that continued Pakistani military actions could increase tensions along the disputed Durand Line and further strain relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
