Intense clashes broke out late Thursday night between Taliban and Pakistani border troops in Dand-e-Patan district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province, local sources reported on Friday.
The fighting, which reportedly began around 1 a.m. local time on Dec. 27, lasted for several hours, with both sides exchanging heavy fire, sources added.
According to local sources, some rockets fired by Pakistani forces struck civilian homes. However, no detailed information on casualties or damage on either side has been released. The Taliban have yet to comment on the incident.
Rising tensions
The clash comes just three days after Pakistani airstrikes targeted the Barmal district of neighboring Paktika province. The Taliban claimed the strikes were aimed at Waziristani refugees and resulted in the deaths of 46 people, including women and children.
Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have flared repeatedly in recent years. The last significant skirmish in Paktia occurred in Zazi Aryub district in May, after which community leaders on both sides held meetings to de-escalate the situation.
