The Taliban government in Afghanistan on Sunday claimed that its forces killed 58 Pakistani troops during intense border clashes that erupted overnight between the two neighbouring countries.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the figure at a press conference held in Kabul, adding that nine Taliban fighters were also killed in the confrontation.

The clashes mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, both of which have accused each other in recent months of cross-border attacks and hosting militant groups operating along the frontier.

Further details about the location of the clashes or the cause of the escalation have not yet been made public. There has also been no official confirmation from the Pakistani side regarding casualties.

The incident comes amid already strained relations between the two countries, with Pakistan recently stepping up border security and repatriation efforts of undocumented Afghans, drawing criticism from Kabul.