ISLAMABAD/KABUL – Tensions are running high on the Pakistan-Afghanistanborder after clashes in the Dand Patan area in Afghanistan’s Paktiaprovince.
Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi has confirmed the development, sayingPakistan’s and Afghan armed forces were involved in a clash along theinternational border.
The Taliban official said military facilities should not be built close tothe Durand Line, the official border between the two sides for more than ahundred years.
The development comes a day after the Pakistan Army media wing confirmedthe martyrdom of three soldiers as terrorists from Afghanistan opened fireon them.
During the exchange of fire, three soldiers – Naik Muhammad Rehman, NaikMaweez Khan, and Sepoy Irfan Ullah – embraced martyrdom while fightinggallantly, the ISPR said.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and other politicians condemned the attackand demanded that the Afghan government should stop terrorists fromcarrying out operations from its border.
Border tensions between the neighbours have risen since the Talibanreturned to power, with Islamabad alleging that militant groups wereplanning cross-border attacks from Afghan soil.
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Taliban deny harbouring militants entering from Pakistan but are infuriatedby a fence Islamabad is erecting along their border.
Pakistan earlier approached Taliban rulers through diplomatic channels toresolve issues regarding the installation of a security fence on the border.
Taliban raised objections to the fencing project, accusing Islamabad ofseparating the tribes on both sides of the line; however, Pakistan trashedAfghan objections, saying it inherited the international border aftergaining independence.
Pakistan started border fencing in 2017 to curb illegal militant movementand smuggling but it is triggering clashes between security forces on bothsides.
