Cross-border clash: Pakistani soldiers killed near Afghan frontier

At least 11 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a confrontation with militants near the country’s border with Afghanistan, according to Pakistani security officials.

The Afghan government, led by the Taliban, has accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

In a statement, the Taliban said Pakistani forces had struck a civilian market along the Durand Line—the unmarked 2,600-kilometre border separating the two countries.

The Afghan authorities strongly condemned the incident, calling it a "clear breach of Afghanistan’s airspace" and vowed to "defend their territory."

The Durand Line, a 2,600-kilometre border established in 1893, has long been a source of contention between the two nations due to its poorly defined nature and historical disputes over its legitimacy.

The area is a hotspot for militant activity, particularly by groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks on Pakistani security forces since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Cross-border skirmishes and accusations of airspace violations are frequent, with both sides blaming each other for harbouring insurgents.

By Aghakazim Guliyev