Pakistani forces, Afghan Taliban clash on Durand Line
Peshawar: Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban used heavy weapons as they got engaged a clash near the Afghan border on Friday.
Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary claimed that the Pakistani forces targeted villages in Kunar province of Afghanistan on the Durand Line.
He said the Taliban soldiers retaliated and fired artillery against Pakistan forces and the clashes continued for 30 minutes between the two sides in the Afternoon.
The journalist said the clashes resumed after a pause.
Quoting unnamed villagers and tribal elders, Sarwary said, “Clashes have resumed between Taliban and Pakistani military forces .
Taliban firing artillery from Sarkano and Dangam districts, both on the Durrand line. Taliban governor for Kunar instructed Taliban soldiers to fire against Pakistani forces.”
He added, “Taliban reinforcements dispatched to Dangam. Heavy clashes under way between Taliban and Pakistani forces. A number of shells and artillery have hit villages.”
The Pakistan army has not issued any statement on the alleged clashes with the Taliban.
The clashes come days after Pakistan hosted a special meeting of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) “to unlock the financial and banking channels to resume liquidity and flow of financial and humanitarian assistance”.
The meeting was the biggest conference on Afghanistan since the US-backed government fell in August and the Taliban returned to power.