ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan killed eight Afghan Taliban fighters in a border clash, state-owned media reported on Sunday, following “unprovoked firing” from the other side on Pakistani checkpoints.
This is not the first such skirmish along the border between the two neighboring countries.
Previous clashes have led to the closure of key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, severely disrupting trade and halting the movement of people between the two states.
Last month, the Torkham border was shut down for three days after the Afghan Taliban announced they were investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly violating Afghan airspace to patrol Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
“Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked firing with heavy weapons yesterday from inside Afghanistan, targeting Pakistani check posts,” Radio Pakistan said.
“The Pakistan security forces responded effectively and killed eight Afghan Taliban, including key commanders Khalil and Jan Muhammad,” it continued. “Sixteen Afghan Taliban were also injured in the firing.”
Quoting unnamed sources, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported that the incident took place along the Pak-Afghan border near the Kurram district in the northwest.
However, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has not released an official statement on the matter.
Pakistani officials have previously accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering and facilitating the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
They have also urged the Kabul administration not to allow such armed factions to use Afghan territory to launch attacks in the region.
The Afghan authorities, however, deny these allegations, maintaining that Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal issue for Islamabad.
