KABUL, April 6: The Taliban claimed on Monday to have captured a Pakistani border post in eastern Afghanistan after clashes with Pakistani soldiers, with local media reporting casualties on Pakistan’s side.
The incident adds to escalating cross-border tensions, now in their sixth week, involving drone strikes, air raids, and artillery exchanges.
The fighting comes as Pakistani and Taliban delegations continue talks in Urumqi to de-escalate hostilities. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said his delegation seeks solutions through dialogue while asserting Afghanistan’s right to defend its territory.
Civilians in Khost’s Tani and Gurbuz districts have been affected, with many fleeing their homes amid ongoing clashes. On March 31, a Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga in Peshawar, organized by Aspire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Qaumi Islahi Tehreek, urged both nations to halt border fighting and resolve disputes through diplomacy.
Political, religious, and business leaders stressed shared cultural and social ties and called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian and regional consequences. Despite diplomatic efforts, tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remain high, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence. (IANS)
