Firefights erupt between Pakani and Afghan forces along the border | World News

A communication tower stands in Jalalabad, Afghanan. (AP/ Representational photo)

Firefights broke out along the Pakan-Afghanan border late on Saturday, with the Afghan Taliban attacking Pakani posts, according to security officials from both countries, following a Pakani airstrike in Kabul this week.

Pakani security officials said that they were responding “with full force” to what they called unprovoked firing from Afghanan. The exchange of fire took place at more than six locations along the border, they said.
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The Taliban forces said they captured three Pakani border posts. Pakani security officials said their military had destroyed several Afghan posts.

Video footage shared Pakani security officials showed gun and artillery firing towards Afghanan, lighting up the night sky.

RETALIATION FOR PAKANI AIRSTRIKES

Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanan’s Minry of Defense, said it was a retaliatory operation for Pakan’s violation of Afghan airspace. He said the attack concluded at midnight local time.

“If the opposing side again violates Afghanan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their airspace and will deliver a strong response,” Khowarazmi said.

There was no immediate response from Pakan on whether the clashes had ended. The border runs for 2,600 km (1,615 miles). Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban adminration of harbouring militants of the Pakani Taliban who attack Pakan, with the support of Pakan’s adversary, India.

New Delhi denies the charge, while the Taliban say that they do not allow their territory to be used against other countries.

A Pakani security official had told Reuters this week that the airstrike had targeted the leader of the Pakani Taliban militant group in Kabul, travelling in a vehicle. It was unclear if he had survived.

Islamabad had warned Kabul that its patience had run out. The Taliban adminration’s foreign miner visited India this week, the first such trip a senior Taliban official since the group seized power in 2021, and the two sides agreed to upgrade ties.

That visit raised further concerns in Pakan. There has been an upsurge in attacks militants in Pakan since the Taliban came to power.