Islamabad and Taliban accuse each other of border attack

Another shootout occurred on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides accusing each other of provoking it.

The incident took place just a few days after Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, which further exacerbated already tense relations. Islamabad claims that Afghan forces initiated "unprovoked fire" in the Torkham and Tirah areas, to which Pakistani troops responded.

However, Afghan authorities give a different account, saying that Pakistani forces started the firing. According to them, the fighting ended without any Afghan casualties.

The tension is also related to Pakistan's weekend airstrikes on positions of militants from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State in Nangarhar province. The UN reported civilian casualties.

(reuters, mja)