Five civilians were injured in a clash between Taliban and Pakistani border forces in Khost province, Afghanistan, local sources reported.
The skirmish occurred late Saturday near the Palus area of Zazi Maidan district, though details about what sparked the fighting remain unclear.
The exchange of fire, which began around 9 p.m. and lasted for nearly four hours, reportedly left one Taliban fighter dead and six others wounded, according to local sources. Residents said both sides employed heavy weaponry, causing damage to civilian homes. Images obtained by Amu TV show the extent of the destruction in the area.
The Taliban fighter killed in the clash has been identified as Shafiullah Rahbar, a local Taliban commander. Both the Taliban and Pakistani authorities have yet to issue official statements on the cause of the skirmish or confirm casualty numbers.
On Sunday morning, Khost’s Taliban deputy governor visited the site and instructed local Taliban forces to “respond to any form of aggression,” escalating tensions further.
This incident marks the second border skirmish in less than a week between Taliban forces and Pakistani guards. A similar confrontation occurred in Zazi Aryub district, Paktia province, before spilling into Zazi Maidan in Khost.
Military analysts warn that these repeated clashes could destabilize the region. Asadullah Nadeem, a military expert, noted that Taliban fighters harbor lingering grievances against Pakistan, citing past mistreatment by Pakistani authorities as a source of animosity. “This resentment contributes to the frequency of these confrontations,” he explained.
Border tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan are longstanding. Provinces like Nangarhar, Kunar, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika, and Khost have all seen similar skirmishes in recent years. Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between the two governments remain strained, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of harboring terrorist groups and the Taliban blaming Pakistan for U.S. drone incursions into Afghan airspace.
As violence continues to flare along the border, the prospect of further instability looms.
