Author: 1to90

The office of Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has said an attempt to seize power illegally and by force is under way in the country.
Hours later, an army unit known as CAPSAT claimed that it had taken over the leadership of the military command, and was now in control of all the armed forces – land, air, and naval.
This is the same unit that played a crucial role in the 2009 Malagasy political crisis, which helped Rajoelina rise to power.
Madagascar was first hit by youth-led protests on 25 September against water and power cuts, but they have escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina's government over high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Rajoelina's statement said "there is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles," in a translation.
He condemned "in the strongest possible terms" what he called an attempt to destabilise the country. He also called on all of the nation's key forces to unite in defending the constitutional order and national sovereignty.
CAPSAT said it had appointed a new army chief of staff, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, according to a statement issued on its Facebook page.
AFP news agency reports armed forces minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo has accepted the appointment.
"I give him my blessing," the minister was quoted as saying at a ceremony to install Gen Pikulas to the post.
Protesters have gathered at the main square in the capital, Antananarivo, for the second consecutive day.
This is a significant development, as they had failed to reach May 13 Square, the focal point of previous uprisings, until now.
A protester told the BBC that they had "finally conquered May 13 Square – the Square of Democracy".
"We're happy and relieved. It's a great victory. We won't stop the struggle until President Rajoelina resigns," the protester added.
The success of the demonstrators came after they received unexpected support from CAPSAT on Saturday, when some of its troops left their barracks to join the demonstration.
CAPSAT had condemned the use of force against protesters by other security units.
There were reports of a shoot-out at a CAPSAT camp on Sunday, following similar reports on Saturday.
CAPSAT said one soldier was shot by gendarmes on Saturday, and died.
Air France said it had suspended its flights to Antananarivo until at least Tuesday because of the security situation.
The protest movement, known as Gen Z Mada, has been rallying support mainly through social media, posing the biggest challenge to Rajoelina since his re-election in 2023.
On Saturday, a statement from the presidency had assured the nation that Rajoelina and the new prime minister – an army general he appointed last week – were in control of the situation.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk previously urged security forces to stop using "unnecessary and disproportionate force" to quell the unrest. He said at least 22 people were killed and 100 others injured.
Rajoelina disputed the figure last week, saying there were 12 confirmed deaths and "all of these individuals were looters and vandals".
Madagascar has been rocked by multiple uprisings since it gained independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana to step down and saw Rajoelina come to power.
Rajoelina governed for four years and then returned to power after the 2018 election.
Despite its natural resources, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
Only about one-third of Madagascar's 30 million people have access to electricity, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Patrick Herminie has defeated Wavel Ramkalawan in a runoff, gaining 52.7% of the vote, official results show.
Some question whether the 19th Century Afrikaner leader should still be memorialised.
El-Fasher has been surrounded by the RSF for 17 months, as residents face hunger and starvation.
Esther Njoki says her family has been denied justice for 13 years after her aunt Agnes Wanjiru's body was found in a septic tank.
Cameroon's Paul Biya promises young voters "the best is yet to come" as others hunger for "young blood".
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We participate in marketing programs, our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions. To find out more, please visit our Term and Conditions page.
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Pi Network has come under harsh scrutiny as several analysts now predict that Pi Coin’s price could collapse to $0 by 2026. Yesterday’s market crash added fresh pressure, with Trump’s tariff talk affecting digital assets. 
In contrast, Remittix (RTX) is gaining attention as a potential alternative designed with stronger fundamentals and clearer use cases. Notably, it acted as a hedge during the selloff, and investors’ funds were not marked down by exchange volatility. This article examines the Pi Network price outlook, then reviews how Remittix positions itself as the more viable project.
Most analysts now believe Pi Coin could drop toward $0 by 2026. Reports suggest that nearly half of experts expect Pi to collapse due to weak fundamentals, low liquidity, and limited adoption. Also, yesterday’s market crash showed how fragile that setup can be when whale activity hits. 
Pi’s token unlock schedule is also cited as a major factor, with large supply releases expected to increase selling pressure. If tariff tensions escalate and volatility climbs, those unlocks could face even thinner liquidity and steeper discounts.
Compared with Pi, Remittix appears structurally stronger and more utility-driven. While Pi struggles with weak adoption and speculative momentum, Remittix is built around payment infrastructure, incentives, and transparent operations. 
Many investors are now shifting attention from Pi to emerging projects like Remittix in light of these fundamentals and resistance against price swings. 
Remittix has sold over 677 million tokens, currently priced at $0.113, raising more than $27.3 million. The team is verified by CertiK and ranked number one among prelaunch tokens. Its wallet is in beta, with community users actively testing its functions. 
Remittix operates a 15% USDT referral rewards program, claimable every 24 hours, and a $250,000 giveaway to encourage user growth. The project secured listings on BitMart after a $20 million raise and on LBank after a $22 million raise, with a third exchange listing in preparation. 
The following strengths highlight how Remittix is built to avoid the pitfalls threatening Pi:
Analyst warnings about Pi Coin’s potential collapse highlight deep structural flaws that may be difficult to fix, and yesterday’s tariff-driven selloff showed how quickly macro stress can expose weak models. 
Remittix, by contrast, demonstrated buffer-like qualities through its presale, verified security, and a viral 15% USDT referral program. If trade war news continues to inject volatility, capital often seeks projects where progress and participation do not depend on minute-to-minute exchange moves.
Remittix stands out as the viable long-term growth play, offering solid fundamentals and high upside potential. If Pi falters as analysts predict, Remittix is well placed to capture the capital and attention that typically rotate toward stronger, utility-first projects during turbulent periods.
Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their project here:
Website: https://remittix.io/
Socials: https://linktr.ee/remittix
$250,000 Giveaway: https://gleam.io/competitions/nz84L-250000-remittix-giveaway
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and should not be treated as news/advice. LiveBitcoinNews is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the content, products, or services referenced in this press release.
LiveBitcoinNews is a leading online platform dedicated to providing the latest news and insights about Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market. It offers timely updates on market trends, regulatory developments, technological advancements, and expert analyses, catering to both seasoned investors and newcomers in the digital currency space. The site features a variety of content, including articles, guides, interviews, and opinion pieces, making it a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in staying informed about the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies.
Contact us: support@livebitcoinnews.com
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The cryptocurrency world is abuzz with a dire prediction concerning Pi Coin, the digital currency associated with the Pi Network. A growing chorus of crypto analysts and market observers foresee a potential collapse of Pi Coin’s value to $0 by 2026. This stark bearish outlook, emerging in late 2025, stems from a confluence of critical issues including a problematic mainnet launch, a perceived lack of real-world utility, escalating regulatory hurdles, and an inflationary tokenomics model that continues to flood the market with supply. The implications of such a collapse extend beyond Pi Network’s user base, potentially casting a shadow on other nascent blockchain projects struggling with similar foundational challenges.
The prediction, while still a year away from its projected outcome, highlights significant structural weaknesses that have plagued the project since its highly anticipated transition to an open, tradeable mainnet in early 2025. The initial euphoria surrounding the mainnet launch quickly dissipated, giving way to a sustained period of decline and disillusionment among its vast, yet increasingly frustrated, community. This scenario underscores the importance of tangible utility, robust infrastructure, and transparent governance in the fiercely competitive and rapidly evolving crypto ecosystem.
The journey of Pi Coin since its mainnet launch in February 2025 has been a cautionary tale of volatility and decline. Following its listing on select exchanges like Bitget, OKX, Gate.io, and MEXC, Pi Coin experienced a fleeting surge, briefly touching nearly $3. However, this peak was short-lived, with the price plummeting to approximately $0.65 by April 2025 and hovering around $0.50-$0.60 by mid-2025. As of October 2025, its value has further eroded to a range of $0.26-$0.35, representing a staggering 90% decrease from its all-time high. This dramatic downturn is a primary driver behind the $0 prediction for 2026.
Trading volumes and liquidity for Pi Coin remain alarmingly thin, largely due to its limited listings on major, tier-one exchanges such as Binance. The rigorous assessment processes of these platforms have kept Pi Coin at bay, contributing to an unstable market where even relatively small trades can trigger significant price swings. Technical analysis reveals a consistent pattern of lower highs and lower lows, with key support levels repeatedly breached, indicating a strong bearish momentum. The current price range of $0.26-$0.35 now acts as a critical resistance, with little identifiable support below, making the path to $0 a distinct possibility should selling pressure continue.
A significant factor contributing to this market instability is the highly concentrated ownership of Pi Coin. Reports indicate that the top 100 Pi Coin wallets control approximately 96% of the total supply. This extreme concentration not only exacerbates liquidity issues but also raises concerns about potential market manipulation and the ability of a few large holders to dictate price movements, creating an environment ripe for further collapse. This situation draws parallels to other speculative assets that have seen rapid rises and falls due to concentrated ownership and a lack of genuine market depth.
The Pi Network boasts an enormous user base, estimated to be over 60 million individuals globally. However, the community’s response to the post-mainnet developments has been largely characterized by frustration and disappointment. A major bottleneck has been the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process, with only about 14 million users reportedly completing it and migrating their tokens in time to access or sell them. This has left a vast majority of users unable to realize the value of their mined coins, fueling widespread discontent across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.
Crypto influencers and thought leaders have largely adopted a skeptical, if not outright critical, stance on Pi Coin. Many point to the project’s slow development, perceived lack of innovation, and the absence of compelling decentralized applications (dApps) as fundamental flaws. While the Pi Network claims a growing ecosystem of apps and merchant adoption in various countries, critics argue that the existing Pi Browser and Wallet offer only basic functionalities, failing to provide the robust utility needed to sustain a large-scale cryptocurrency. The narrative on broader crypto Twitter and Reddit often oscillates between fervent belief from dedicated ‘Pioneers’ and harsh criticism from external observers who label it as an ‘hype-driven’ project lacking substance.
The limited practical utility of Pi Coin has also prevented any significant integration with related DeFi protocols or NFT projects. Without a strong foundation of dApps that leverage the token for specific functions, the Pi ecosystem remains largely isolated from the broader Web3 landscape. This insular nature further contributes to the bearish outlook, as external demand drivers are virtually non-existent, leaving the token’s value reliant almost solely on speculative interest and the dwindling hope of its massive user base.
The predictions surrounding Pi Coin serve as a critical reminder for the broader crypto market about the importance of utility, regulatory compliance, and sound tokenomics. In the short term, continued selling pressure from newly KYC’d users and ongoing token unlocks could further accelerate Pi Coin’s decline. The absence of major exchange listings and a clear roadmap for significant dApp development are likely to keep institutional and even retail investor interest at bay, maintaining its status as a highly speculative asset.
Long-term implications for the crypto market, particularly for projects that rely heavily on community growth and mobile mining without immediate utility, are significant. Pi Coin’s potential collapse could reinforce the market’s preference for projects with proven technology, clear use cases, and transparent development. Potential catalysts that could alter Pi Coin’s trajectory include a sudden and substantial integration with a widely adopted dApp, a listing on a top-tier exchange, or a comprehensive overhaul of its tokenomics to introduce scarcity or burning mechanisms. However, the likelihood of these developments occurring in time to avert the predicted collapse appears slim, given the project’s historical pace.
For investors and projects alike, strategic considerations must revolve around due diligence and fundamental analysis. Projects need to prioritize tangible value creation over user acquisition numbers alone, while investors must scrutinize whitepapers for sustainable tokenomics and realistic roadmaps. Possible scenarios range from a gradual bleed to $0 as predicted, to a more drawn-out existence as a low-value, niche token, or, less likely, a sudden revival driven by unforeseen developments. The former two scenarios appear far more probable given the current trajectory and existing challenges.
The looming prediction of Pi Coin’s price collapsing to $0 by 2026 presents a stark warning for crypto investors and enthusiasts. The core takeaways are clear: a massive user base alone does not guarantee success without corresponding utility, robust infrastructure, and market accessibility. The project’s struggles with KYC, limited exchange listings, and a lack of compelling dApps have severely hampered its ability to establish a sustainable value proposition in the competitive crypto landscape.
The long-term significance of Pi Coin’s trajectory lies in its potential to serve as a case study for the pitfalls of hype-driven projects lacking fundamental value. Its fate could influence how future mobile-first or community-centric crypto initiatives are perceived and developed. For broader crypto adoption, such events, while painful for those involved, can ultimately lead to a more mature market that prioritizes substance over speculation.
Important metrics to monitor include the rate of KYC completion and token migration, any new major exchange listings, and crucially, the development and adoption of genuine dApps within the Pi ecosystem that can drive demand for the token. The ongoing token unlock schedule and its impact on circulating supply will also be a critical factor in determining Pi Coin’s price action in the coming months. As of October 2025, the path ahead for Pi Coin appears fraught with peril, making the $0 prediction for 2026 a sobering possibility.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk.

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BlockchainFX, SUI, XRP: Best Crypto For Higher Returns In 2025  BlockchainReporter
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1. Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court today: “A little bit too personal and confrontational”  CBS News
2. ‘Life, Law & Liberty’ Review: Leading From the Middle  The Wall Street Journal
3. Retired Justice Kennedy laments coarse discourse of Trump era and its effects on Supreme Court  Politico
4. Justice Kennedy, Off the Bench but Still Rendering Opinions  The New York Times
5. OPINION | JOHN BRUMMETT: Praise for judicial principle  Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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There was one winning ticket — worth $50 million — in the state’s SuperLotto Plus game drawn Saturday night.
The winning ticket was sold at Village Spirit Shoppe in Westlake Village.
The winning ticket matches both 5 numbers and the one mega number.
The winning numbers are: 3, 13, 27, 32 and 39. And the mega number is 4.
Two tickets matched the five regular numbers without the mega number and they are each worth $20,938.
Four matches plus the mega number are worth $1.610. Thirteen of those tickets were sold.
Each ticket sells for $1. The odds of winning the full jackpot are 41,416,353 to 1.
SuperLotto Plus draws take place Wednesdays and Saturdays after the draw entry closes at 7:45 p.m. on the day of the draw.
A winner has 180 days to claim a prize.
Each jackpot starts at $7 million. If there are no winners, the jackpot grows larger.
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Howard Blume covers education for the Los Angeles Times. He’s won the top investigative reporting prize from the L.A. Press Club and print Journalist of the Year from the L.A. Society of Professional Journalists chapter. He recently retired “Deadline L.A.,” a past honoree for best public-affairs radio program, which he produced and co-hosted on KPFK-FM (90.7) for 15 years. He teaches tap dancing and has two superior daughters.
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Madison McGhee is joined by friend of the pod, L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton, to untangle the crime web that was sewn by Eric Halem, an ex-reserve cop with wealthy connections and a history of criminal activity.
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Onmanorama Staff
Published: October 12, 2025 03:15 PM IST Updated: October 12, 2025 04:21 PM IST
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The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Samrudhi SM-24 lottery draw. The lucky draw was held at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, at 3 pm on Sunday.
The first prize is ₹1 crore, subject to a 30% tax deduction. The second prize is ₹25 lakh, followed by a third prize of ₹5 lakh. 
Check complete results here:
1st Prize (1 crore) – MW 796935
(Cons prize: ₹5,000 for remaining all series)    
2nd Prize: ₹25 Lakhs: MO 824488
3rd Prize: ₹5 Lakhs: MT 442422
4th Prize ₹5000: 0172, 0677, 0830, 1559, 1905, 2036, 3277, 4640, 4892, 5973, 7246, 7344, 7850, 8014, 8104, 8326, 8535, 8805, 9108
5th Prize ₹2000: 1964, 2438, 3689, 4139, 5172, 5228
6th Prize ₹1000: 0344, 0833, 1137, 1260, 1356, 1930, 2399, 2547, 2751, 3014, 3621, 4849, 5038, 6114, 6416, 6501, 7041, 7422, 7811, 7906, 8046, 8047, 8067, 8649, 9238
7th Prize ₹500: 0489, 0638, 0852, 1034, 1071, 1153, 1166, 1368, 1402, 1546, 1744, 1759, 2048, 2172, 2233, 2276, 2303, 2447, 2489, 2491, 3025, 3107, 3199, 3265, 3364, 3411, 3620, 3643, 3683, 3705, 3872, 3876, 3893, 4061, 4084, 4245, 4338, 4366, 4629, 4637, 4694, 4741, 4745, 4804, 4885, 4910, 4947, 5032, 5201, 5265, 5274, 5342, 5495, 5719, 5770, 5861, 5945, 6126, 6210, 6294, 6408, 6454, 6639, 6837, 6849, 6879, 7830, 7942, 8032, 8303, 8407, 8451, 8454, 8772, 8821, 8939
8th Prize ₹200: 0071, 0412, 0418, 0438, 0463, 0495, 0522, 0841, 0877, 0920, 0940, 0948, 1401, 1509, 1514, 1557, 1702, 1715, 1809, 1820, 1823, 1912, 2221, 2247, 2507, 2592, 2749, 3487, 3555, 3842, 3912, 3934, 3969, 4000, 4007, 4102, 4119, 4176, 4460, 4646, 4822, 5013, 5145, 5161, 5298, 5373, 5464, 5720, 5886, 5888, 6050, 6074, 6206, 6258, 6462, 6511, 6549, 6550, 6557, 6745, 6807, 6846, 6894, 6921, 6982, 7205, 7309, 7404, 7407, 7503, 7596, 7605, 7672, 7704, 7795, 7798, 7847, 7907, 7926, 7932, 8277, 8338, 8754, 8891, 8950, 9005, 9241, 9271, 9293, 9406, 9428, 9550, 9775.
9th Prize ₹100: 0004, 0022, 0030, 0105, 0270, 0413, 0447, 0487, 0580, 0628, 0639, 0797, 0826, 0855, 0918, 0973, 0998, 1003, 1078, 1220, 1275, 1307, 1320, 1369, 1405, 1498, 1505, 1606, 1621, 1687, 1836, 1867, 1892, 1897, 1900, 2120, 2165, 2203, 2430, 2477, 2479, 2591, 2786, 2813, 2820, 2831, 2876, 2893, 3053, 3213, 3274, 3307, 3373, 3428, 3442, 3531, 3603, 3625, 3870, 3929, 3993, 4126, 4189, 4329, 4330, 4378, 4380, 4527, 4687, 4740, 4747, 4763, 4785, 4901, 4918, 5027, 5095, 5108, 5147, 5353, 5363, 5437, 5503, 5696, 5758, 5813, 6039, 6153, 6239, 6366, 6451, 6460, 6491, 6505, 6564, 6649, 6663, 6701, 6732, 6773, 7013, 7125, 7195, 7252, 7373, 7396, 7402, 7446, 7552, 7788, 7813, 7884, 8025, 8086, 8207, 8220, 8299, 8433, 8489, 8514, 8549, 8658, 8686, 8696, 8740, 8761, 8852, 8857, 9035, 9267, 9307, 9353, 9367, 9386, 9389, 9442, 9530, 9624, 9644, 9647, 9654, 9713, 9789, 9816, 9835, 9869, 9918, 9971, 9987
Winners in the Kerala state lottery must verify their ticket numbers against the results published in the official Kerala Government Gazette. According to the Kerala State Lotteries Department, prize claims must be submitted within 30 days of the draw date.
Winners of the first and second prizes are required to surrender their tickets either in person or via insured registered post to the Director of State Lotteries. Alternatively, claims can be submitted through nationalised, scheduled, state, or district co-operative banks, along with the necessary documents.
Claimants must also provide valid identification, such as an Aadhaar or PAN card, when submitting their winning ticket.
© Copyright 2025 Onmanorama. All rights reserved.

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What are the risks and benefits of using cryptocurrency for payments?  PHL17.com
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Afghan officials say 58 Pakistani soldiers killed while Pakistan says 200 Taliban and affiliated ‘terrorists’ dead in border clashes.
By Yashraj Sharma and Abid Hussain
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Pakistani and Afghan forces have exchanged deadly fire at multiple locations along their border, and the two sides claim to have captured and destroyed border posts in one of the worst border clashes in recent years.
The Taliban administration’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in “retaliatory” attacks on Saturday night, two days after blasts were reported in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the southeastern province of Paktika.

The Pakistani military admitted 23 of its soldiers were dead while claiming to have killed 200 Taliban and affiliated “terrorists”. Pakistan’s interior minister called the Afghan attacks “unprovoked firing”.
The Taliban government has accused Pakistan of carrying out Thursday’s bombings. Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations.
Pakistan was accused of backing Taliban fighters during their rebellion against the United States-led occupation of Afghanistan and was one of only three countries that recognised the first Taliban government from 1996 to 2001.
But the rise of attacks inside Pakistan since the return of the Taliban to power in 2021 has strained their ties as Islamabad has accused the Taliban administration of providing safe haven to fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistan Taliban. Kabul has denied the allegations.
So what’s the latest on the fighting? What triggered the clashes? And is the situation expected to escalate further?
The Taliban attacks on Pakistan border areas began about 10pm (17:00 GMT) on Saturday, and the exchange of fire took place at multiple locations.
Pakistani officials and state-run radio noted that those locations included Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir and Chitral – all in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – and Bahram Chah in Balochistan.
Mujahid said Afghan forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, captured 25 army posts and wounded 30 soldiers in their attacks.
“The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” Mujahid said at a news conference in Kabul.
Afghanistan’s TOLOnews channel reported on Sunday that the Ministry of Defence is deploying tanks and heavy weapons in several areas of Kunar province on the 2,640km (1,640-mile) border, also referred to as the colonial-era Durand Line.
The Pakistani military on Sunday condemned what it called “the cowardly action”, saying it was aimed at destabilising the border to facilitate terrorism”.
“Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Last night’s episode vindicates Pakistan’s long-standing position that the Taliban government is actively facilitating the terrorists,” ISPR said. At least 29 soldiers were injured during the overnight skirmishes, it added.
The Pakistani military claimed multiple Taliban locations were destroyed along the border and “21 hostile positions on the Afghan side of the border were also briefly physically captured and multiple terrorist training camps used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan were rendered inoperative.”
While the exchange of fire is mostly over, residents of Pakistan’s Kurram area reported intermittent gunfire.
On Thursday, Kabul was rocked by the sound of two explosions, and another took place in a civilian market in the border province of Paktika, the Taliban Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The Taliban government accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s “sovereign territory”. Islamabad did not outright deny the blasts but asked the Taliban to curb the activities of the Pakistan Taliban.
A Pakistani security official told the Reuters news agency air strikes were carried out and their intended target in Kabul was the leader of the TTP, who was travelling in a vehicle.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify if the leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, had survived.
Pakistan and the Taliban, once allies over shared security interests, have grown increasingly hostile over Islamabad’s claim that the Taliban is giving refuge to the TTP, which is accused of carrying out years of attacks inside Pakistan.
At least 2,414 fatalities have been recorded in the first three quarters of this year, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank.
In its latest report issued last month, CRSS said that if the current trend continues, 2025 could be one of the deadliest years in Pakistan. Last year, at least 2,546 people were killed in attacks.
The attacks have risen since the ouster of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2022. Khan’s government had involved the Taliban in efforts to get the TTP to agree to a ceasefire. Although the ceasefire unravelled during Khan’s tenure, the frequency of attacks remained lower.
Ties have deteriorated as Islamabad has increased its use of air strikes inside Afghanistan to target hideouts it says are used by TTP fighters.
Analysts said a recent surge in TTP attacks against Pakistani soldiers was the main trigger for the deadly clashes.
The TTP attacks, including suicide bombings, compelled Pakistan to strike in Afghanistan, said Mehmood Jan Babar, a
Peshawar-based political and security analyst.
“The message was to clearly show that if the Afghan Taliban won’t control the elements on their soil, Pakistan will strike inside the Afghan territory. The issue is that the TTP has enough support within the ranks of the Afghan Taliban, and that is also why the government often chooses to look the other way when the TTP carries out its activities inside Pakistan,” Babar said.
“If the Kabul government chooses to take some action, they fear there could be a big revolt in their internal ranks as not only TTP fighters but even the Afghan Taliban rank and file might end up joining hands, or worse, join the so-called Islamic State in Khorasan Province.”
Relations have also soured over Pakistan’s decision to deport tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. At least 3 million Afghan refugees had taken shelter in Pakistan after fleeing decades of conflict.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Afghan attacks late on Saturday, adding that the country’s army “not only gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations but also destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat”.
Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister, said the Afghan attacks were “unprovoked” and civilians were fired at. Strongly condemning the Taliban’s attacks, he said: “The firing by Afghan forces on civilian populations is a blatant violation of international laws.”
“Afghanistan is playing a game of fire and blood,” he said in a post on X.
Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, said its attacks on the Pakistan border posts were a retaliatory operation, adding that they concluded at midnight.
“If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their airspace and will deliver a strong response,” Khowarazmi said.
The escalating tensions have prompted regional concern as they come amid rapidly changing security dynamics and relations in South Asia.
“Our position is that both sides must exercise restraint,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a live interview with state television, adding that “stability” between the two countries that border Iran “contributes to regional stability”.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged “both sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, exercise restraint, and work to contain the disputes in a way that helps reduce tension, avoids escalation, and contributes to regional peace and stability”.
Expressing concern, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The kingdom calls for restraint, avoiding escalation, and embracing dialogue and wisdom to contribute to reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in the region.”
“The kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability and its continued commitment to ensuring security, which will achieve stability and prosperity for the brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples,” it added.
India, which is currently hosting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on his first visit there, has yet to comment on the border clashes. Islamabad has viewed New Delhi’s engagement with the Taliban with suspicion.
Ibraheem Bahiss, a Kabul-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, said Muttaqi’s red-carpet welcome in India was “probably a factor in the ultimate decision by the Pakistan army to escalate in the major way that we saw”.
Security analysts and a former diplomat Al Jazeera spoke to suggested both sides would like to avoid escalating the matter.
Asif Durrani, a former Pakistani ambassador and special representative to Afghanistan, told Al Jazeera he believes “the chances of this clash [spilling over] to something bigger and more serious [are] minimal.”
“Afghanistan does not have any conventional military capacity when compared to Pakistan,” Durrani said, adding, “Guerrilla warfare is not the same as conventional warfare, which is a whole different beast and something where Pakistan is considerably ahead of Afghanistan.”
Bahiss said he believes that priority for both Islamabad and Kabul is to de-escalate. “Neither side wants major escalation on their frontiers as they are already grappling with several issues,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Pakistan is dealing with violence with attacks against security personnel, and it would lead to the compounding of this issue if the Afghan Taliban also started carrying out attacks, putting broader security under pressure, and that is something Pakistan would want to avoid.”
The Afghan retaliation, Bahiss said, was “to reassure their domestic audience, showing that they are in control of the situation and can avenge any strikes inside their territory”.
Babar says both sides need to engage through diplomacy. “It is the only way they can somehow find a way to resolve their differences. Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, who is also the foreign minister, has met his Afghan counterpart multiple times this year, and they have both promised not to fight,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Both countries have a similar set of friends, particularly China and other Muslim nations. Saudi Arabia, in fact, has already issued a statement urging restraint from both sides and disengagement from battle. China and Russia too will not want this border to heat up and will want both to get back to the negotiation table, so I don’t think there will be any further escalation,” he said.
But Durrani said the TTP remains the central issue in the countries’ fraught relations.
“The Afghan government refuses to acknowledge their [the TTP’s] existence on their soil, and as long as that irritant remains present, the situation will remain tense,” he added.
Abid Hussain contributed reporting from Islamabad and Yashraj Sharma reported from New Delhi

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