How Taliban musters military muscle: Unpacking simultaneous attacks on Pakistan

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Tensions are running high along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Recently, Taliban fighters launched simultaneous attacks on several Pakistani border posts. These attacks are believed to be in retaliation for Pakistan's recent air strikes.

The Taliban claimed to have killed several Pakistani soldiers and captured checkpoints in the attack. Pakistan, meanwhile, said it killed Taliban fighters in retaliation.

But the biggest question is, where did the Taliban get such a huge military force from, which could attack on so many fronts simultaneously?

In fact, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025, Afghanistan (now under the control of the Taliban regime) ranks 118th in the world in military strength. The Taliban, which began as a small group of religious students in the 1990s, has now grown into an organized force after capturing Kabul in 2021.

According to some reports, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has 110,000 to 150,000 active troops, about 100,000 reserve forces, a military budget of approximately ₹14,000 crore, light weapons, rockets, artillery, and some stocks of US weapons. Their lack of an aircraft or navy is their biggest weakness, while they specialize in guerrilla warfare.

The Taliban lack modern weapons, but their greatest strength is guerrilla warfare. Through this, they launch stealthy attacks in small groups. They can take advantage of the mountainous terrain and difficult geography to surprise any enemy. Thus, while this army is smaller in size than the Pakistani army, it presents a formidable challenge based on its knowledge of local geography and guerrilla warfare skills.

According to reports, the Taliban launched simultaneous attacks on several checkpoints in the Kunar-Bajaur, Helmand, and Paktia areas in October 2025. Under cover of night, small groups of Taliban fighters infiltrated Pakistani positions and opened heavy fire.

The attacks were in response to Pakistani airstrikes targeting areas in Kabul and Khost on October 9. The Taliban, calling them "revengeful," launched artillery fire across the border.

The Pashtun community living near the border also provides logistics and support to the Taliban. Their reserve force is quickly mobilized when needed.

Pakistan's military ranks 12th in the Global Firepower 2025, while Afghanistan lags far behind. Despite this, ongoing border clashes have escalated tensions between the two countries to dangerous levels. The conflict is occurring along the Durand Line, the disputed border between the two countries. Experts believe that if the situation remains unchecked, the conflict could impact the security of the entire region.

The Durand Line is an international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, approximately 2,640 kilometers long. It was established in 1893 by an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, and Abdur Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistan.