Citing sources, Pakistani state media reported Monday that eight Taliban members were killed and 16 others wounded in a clash with Pakistani border forces over the weekend.
Among the dead were two senior Taliban commanders, identified as Khalil and Jan Mohammad, according to reports from Radio Pakistan and Geo News, which cited multiple sources.
The fighting took place in Afghanistan’s Zazi Maidan district in Khost province, which borders Pakistan. Pakistani officials claimed the clash was unprovoked, alleging that the Taliban initiated the confrontation. The Taliban, however, stated that their forces were constructing an outpost near the border and accused Pakistan of starting the skirmish.
Geo News, quoting security sources, reported that the Taliban had attacked Pakistani outposts in the Pailawaseen area on the morning of September 7, using heavy weaponry. As of yet, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has not commented on the casualty figures.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share 18 border crossings, with Torkham and Chaman being the busiest, facilitating trade and movement between the two countries. These crossings link Pakistan’s Balochistan province with Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province.
In 2017, Pakistan began constructing a border fence aimed at curbing cross-border insurgent activity, a move that drew condemnation from the Afghan government at the time.
Saturday’s clash marks the second border skirmish between Pakistani forces and the Taliban in the past 10 days.
