Late last month, a Pakistani paramilitary soldier died and 7 others sustained injuries in cross-border exchanges of fire, according to a security source. It comes after Taliban authorities accused Pakistan of killing 46 people in air strikes near the border in Paktika.
Just days earlier, Islamabad had carried out air strikes, according to a Taliban spokesperson. Pakistan bombarded four points in the Barmal district of Paktika, Zabihullah Mujahid said, having that the total number of dead is 46.
Islamabad and Kabul note escalation in border tensions
Six more people – mainly children – sustained injuries in the attack. Kabul condemned the latest strikes by Pakistan, calling them “barbaric” and a “clear aggression”. The Islamic Emirate prioritises the defence of its territory, the statement read.
Islamabad and Kabul are noting an escalation in border tensions since the Taliban seized control of the capital. It appears Pakistan has been trying to address a resurgence of militant aggression in its border regions.
Islamabad has accused Taliban authorities in Kabul of harbouring militant fighters, letting them strike on Pakistani soil amid impunity. But Kabul continues to deny the allegations. In recent years, Pakistan has made a lot of attempts to contain the TTP.
Does Kabul officially recognise the Durand Line?
Islamabad has accused the Taliban of offering a safe space to the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In order to bring the situation under control, Islamabad has erected border fences and applied pressure on Kabul to stop assisting the group.
These recent attempts include the expulsion of more than 500,000 refugees from the neighbouring country last October. The colonial-era Durand Line officially separates both nations. But Kabul does not recognise the border.
