Khaberni - Afghanistan and Pakistan exchanged threats after the killing of dozens from both sides in attacks on the border between the two countries on Saturday evening, amidst Gulf efforts to mediate and resolve the crisis.
The spokesman for the Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid, reported on Sunday that their forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during a nighttime operation on the border.
Mujahid said in a press conference, "During these confrontations, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 were injured," also noting the "death of 9 Taliban forces."
On Sunday, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that his country "achieved its objectives" in Saturday evening's operation against Pakistan.
The minister assured journalists that Afghanistan "wants good relations with Pakistan," but threatened to "deal with the situation in other ways if Islamabad is not interested in dialogue."
He said, "The situation on the border with Pakistan is normal at the moment," calling on Islamabad to "control the problem of armed movements within its borders."
On the other hand, Muttaqi said that Qatar and Saudi Arabia intervened to mediate, after an exchange of fire between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday evening.
The two countries issued statements expressing their concern about the clashes.
In response, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued a stern warning to the Taliban on Sunday, emphasizing that his country "will not tolerate any defense against its territory," and that "every provocation will be met with a strict and effective response."
Sharif said in remarks reported by the Pakistani newspaper "The Nation" that the military executed a strong and effective response to the "Afghan aggression" in the border areas, expressing pride in the "high professional competence of the Pakistani armed forces."
Pakistani officials said that their country closed the border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday, following the exchange of fire overnight.
Afghan forces fired at Pakistani border positions late on Saturday, and the Afghan Ministry of Defense said this was in response to Pakistani air raids in Afghanistan last week.
Pakistan noted that it responded with gunfire and artillery.
Both countries announced the destruction of several border posts of the other side, and Pakistani security officials released video footage they said showed the shelling of Afghan positions.
Pakistani security officials said that the exchange of attacks largely stopped by Sunday morning, but in the Pakistani region of Kurram, intermittent gunfire continued, according to local officials and residents.
