Clashes erupt on Pakistan-Afghanistan border amid rising tensions

Clashes broke out in the border areas between Afghan and Pakistani forces, and the fighting is still ongoing, Xinhua reports.

According to sources, the clashes occurred in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, along the frontier with Pakistan. Both sides reportedly employed heavy weapons, and there have been casualties, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed. Neither the Afghan nor Pakistani governments have issued an official statement regarding the latest skirmishes.

Earlier, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan government, stated that Afghanistan would respond to airstrikes carried out by Pakistan on February 20. The Afghan authorities said that the strikes killed 18 people and injured five others in the bilateral border areas.

Pakistan, for its part, confirmed that it had conducted intelligence-based, targeted strikes on seven militant camps and hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following a series of suicide bombings. Islamabad claimed that more than 80 terrorists were killed in the operation.

By Vafa Guliyeva