KABUL — Saudi Arabia and Qatar have stepped in to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan following deadly overnight clashes that left dozens of soldiers dead on both sides, according to officials.

Afghanistan’s interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghan forces halted their operations after mediation efforts from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan’s private broadcaster Tolo News reported.

The border fighting marked one of the deadliest confrontations since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Mujahid told reporters in Kabul that nine Afghan and 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while another 30 were injured. He claimed Afghan forces had captured more than 20 Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan’s military, however, reported 23 soldiers killed and 29 wounded. In a statement, the army said more than 200 “Taliban forces and affiliated Khwarjis” were killed, with the number of wounded “much higher.”

“As a result of these unrelenting operations, multiple Taliban locations were destroyed all along the border, 21 hostile positions on the Afghan side were briefly captured, and several terrorist training camps used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan were rendered inoperative,” the military said.

The escalation followed accusations from Kabul that Pakistan violated Afghan airspace and bombed a market in Paktika province on Thursday night.

Islamabad has not confirmed or denied involvement but said it will take “all necessary measures” to protect its citizens amid rising militant attacks blamed on the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistan maintains that TTP militants operate from Afghan territory, accusing Kabul of failing to prevent cross-border attacks.

Afghanistan denies the allegations, reaffirming its commitment not to allow its soil to be used for assaults against its neighbor.

The fighting led to the closure of two major crossings — Torkham in the northwest and Chaman in the southwest — halting trade and civilian movement.

Afghan broadcaster Tolo News reported that both crossings were shut after Afghan border forces launched overnight operations against Pakistani positions.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 border crossings, with Torkham and Chaman serving as the main routes for trade and travel.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Sunday that Islamabad remains “firmly committed to safeguarding its national interests, regional sovereignty, and security,” urging Kabul to take “concrete and verifiable action against anti-Pakistan terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.”

In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan would continue to support Afghanistan’s educational and humanitarian needs but stressed that “no compromise will ever be made on Pakistan’s national sovereignty.”

Mujahid said Pakistan had proposed sending a delegation to Kabul for talks, but the Taliban administration rejected the offer, citing the alleged airspace violation as the reason. — Agencies