Clashes Erupt Between Taliban and Pakistani Forces Amid Rising Tensions

Intense clashes broke out late Thursday night in the Dand-e-Patan district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province, with heavy exchanges of fire reported between Taliban fighters and Pakistani border troops, Amu TV reported yesterday.

The fighting began around 1 a.m. local time on Friday and lasted for several hours. Local sources indicated that rockets fired by Pakistani forces struck civilian homes, although there has been no confirmed information on casualties or damage from either side.

This confrontation follows recent Pakistani airstrikes on December 24, which targeted the Barmal district of neighboring Paktika province. The Taliban claimed these strikes resulted in the deaths of 46 civilians, including women and children, a claim echoed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNICEF, which reported at least 20 child fatalities.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, expressed deep regret over the civilian casualties and called for adherence to international law, urging an investigation into the airstrikes.

In response to the airstrikes, Taliban spokesman Jawad Sargar criticized the Pakistani military, suggesting a growing discontent among Pakistani tribes. According to the Taliban spokesman, Punjab province has been separated from other parts of Pakistan and there is a “high probability of disintegration” of Pakistan. He emphasized the need for unity and strategic power among the Taliban and its allies, particularly in light of the increased attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistani security forces.