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Afghanistan, Pakistan Clash Over Militants, Airstrikes and Border Claims
Afghanistan and Pakistan are arguing and fighting near their shared frontier.
Afghanistan said it killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in Nuristan.
It said some of the fighters belonged to Islamic State and had come from Pakistan.
Afghanistan also accused Pakistani authorities of helping former Afghan soldiers and other militants.
Pakistan strongly denied these claims and said Afghanistan provided no reliable evidence.
Pakistan said it was instead fighting militants based in Afghanistan who attack Pakistan.
The two countries also disagree about recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan.
Pakistan said the strikes hit militant hideouts, while Afghan officials said three civilians were killed.
These disagreements have made relations between the neighboring countries more dangerous.
Afghanistan said its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 in Kamdesh district, Nuristan, on Saturday.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry alleged that some fighters were Islamic State members sent from Pakistan with Pakistani support.
Pakistan rejected the accusations, denying involvement by its security forces, intelligence agencies, or support for militant groups.
Pakistan said its forces separately killed more than 71 militants during operations in Balochistan over 96 hours.
The latest escalation follows Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, which Pakistan said targeted militants while Afghan authorities reported three civilian deaths.
- Who
- Afghan forces, Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry, Pakistan’s government and military, alleged Islamic State fighters, and other militant groups are involved.
- What
- Afghanistan reported 28 fighters killed and 32 captured, while Afghanistan and Pakistan exchanged accusations over militant support and airstrikes.
- Where
- The reported operation occurred in Kamdesh district of Nuristan, Afghanistan; related clashes and airstrikes occurred along or near the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, including eastern Afghanistan and Paktia, while Pakistan reported separate operations in Balochistan.
- When
- The fighters were reportedly killed or captured on Saturday, with Afghanistan announcing the claims on Sunday; the broader escalation has occurred in recent weeks.
- Why
- The dispute centers on accusations that militant groups operate across the frontier and that each country supports or shelters forces hostile to the other.
Afghanistan’s Allegations
Pakistan’s Denials and Counterclaims
Militant support
Afghanistan’s Allegations
Afghanistan alleged that Islamic State-linked groups and former Afghan security personnel were sent from Pakistan with backing from Pakistani authorities or intelligence agencies.
Pakistan’s Denials and Counterclaims
Pakistan denied that its security forces or intelligence agencies participated in the Nuristan clashes, recruited or trained former Afghan personnel, or supported Islamic State or other militant groups.
Evidence for the allegations
Afghanistan’s Allegations
Afghanistan presented its account of the fighters’ origins and circulated a video that it regarded as evidence.
Pakistan’s Denials and Counterclaims
Pakistan said Afghanistan supplied no identities, documents, communications, or forensic material, and called the video a pre-planned production showing only a few unarmed people.
Airstrikes and militant sanctuaries
Afghanistan’s Allegations
Afghanistan reported that Pakistani airstrikes killed civilians, including children, and denied providing a safe haven to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Denials and Counterclaims
Pakistan described its strikes as attacks on militant hideouts and accused Afghanistan of allowing Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate from its territory and attack Pakistan.
Key facts
- Afghan operation
- Afghanistan said 28 fighters were killed and 32 were captured in Kamdesh district, Nuristan.
- Alleged fighters
- Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry said some of those involved were Islamic State members and that many were former Afghan government security personnel.
- Afghan allegations
- Afghanistan alleged that Pakistani authorities or intelligence agencies supported, trained, or facilitated militants sent into Afghanistan.
- Pakistan’s response
- Pakistan called the accusations “frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth” and denied involvement in the Nuristan clashes.
- Pakistan’s separate claim
- Pakistan’s military said more than 71 militants were killed in operations in Balochistan over the preceding 96 hours.
- Airstrike claims
- Pakistan said recent strikes in eastern Afghanistan killed 28 militants, while Afghan authorities reported three civilian deaths; the United Nations confirmed the civilian toll.
- Border dispute
- Afghanistan does not recognize the Durand Line as an international border; the countries share a reported 2,611-kilometre boundary.
Sources
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