Fresh conflict between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban

Web Desk

PESHAWAR: Fresh conflict between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban at Pak-Afghan interntional border, close to Kurram district, left eight Afghan Taliban fighters, including two senior commanders, besides injuring at least 16 others, according to information obtained by Policy East.

Sources quoted that the clash started when heavy contingents of Afghan Taliban stormed a Pakistani check post in the small hours of Saturday in the Palosin area on the Pak-Afghan border.

“We have confirmed reports of significant losses on the Afghan side. So far, eight Taliban militants, including commanders Khalil and Jan Muhammad, have been killed, and at least 16 others have been wounded in retaliatory fire from Pakistani forces,” the sources disclosed. But no official word had emerged from ISPR till the filing of this report.

clash started when heavy contingents of Afghan Taliban stormed a Pakistani check post in the small hours of Saturday

Escalation of Tensions

This incident is the continuation of several such incidents in recent days as Afghan forces have time and again fired upon Pakistani troops deployed along the border, sources say. Such border clashes have continued despite Pakistan’s efforts in the past to take up the issue of its concern with Kabul. Aside from the direct clashes, it is also being reported that Afghan Taliban are providing a conduit to the militants operating inside Pakistan thereby increasing tensions between the two countries.

As security deteriorated, cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed the entire weekend. Policy East correspondent mentioned that sporadic firing continued Sunday without any other casualties reported.

In May this year, the Foreign Office of Pakistan showed strong concerns to the Afghan government in the wake of clashes in the Kharlachi area, forcing a sizeable number of local residents to displace to safer locations. The tribal elders from both sides of the border had helped bring about a temporary de-escalation of tensions on that occasion. However, large-scale displacement was caused due to clashes, and scores of villages near the Kharlachi border crossing were evacuated.

As security deteriorated, cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed the entire weekend.

FC Official Martyred

In another incident on Sunday, an FC official was martyred and three others received injuries while attacking a check post in Marghan area of central Kurram. Police sources said that militants ambushed Tall Scouts check post and fled away after the attack. The bodies of the martyred and injured personnel were shifted to the nearby hospital.

Historical Context and Border Strains

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deep roots, especially in areas like Kurram, in a long history that also sees both nations having their respective challenges associated with cross-border militancy and territorial disputes. The Durand Line, which separates the two countries de facto, has been a flash point of conflict for decades. The fact that the Afghan Taliban has risen once more since the pull-out of the United States from Afghanistan has, accordingly, only increased security concerns for Pakistan as the two nations are considered to have one of the most unstable and porous borders.

While such frequent border clashes dent diplomatic relations, the ripple effect reaches the civilians in general: mass displacement and a halt to vital cross-border trade. Even as past efforts by tribal elders and through diplomatic channels have eased tensions, these recurring clashes underline how fragile peace is along the border.

There is no immediate resolution in sight, and hence the threat of further escalation remains a real risk for the two nations as a whole.