Talks between delegations from the Taliban and Pakistan on clashes along the Durand Line in Dand-e-Patan district of eastern Paktia province ended in a deadlock on Tuesday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
This comes after at least one person was killed in cross-border shootings on Sunday.
One meeting took place on Monday, Nov. 21, with the Taliban deputy defense minister Mullah Fazil Akhund leading the delegation.
Two sources aware of the matter who are in Afghanistan said that the talks took place at the Kharlasi gate in Dand-e-Patan district on the border between the two countries.
“The Taliban is making a road near the border. The people on the other side of the border say the land where the road is being built belongs to them and the road should not be built there,” one source said. “The talks ended with no outcome and if the Taliban resumes work on the road, there will be a fight,” the source added.
He said the two sides stated they are ready for a fight and that the Taliban has deployed armed members and weapons to the area.
Jannatyar Kochai, spokesman for Taliban’s Mansoori corps, told Amu that clashes in Dand-e-Patan have stopped and that they have secured the area so that patients and travelers can use the crossing.
Clashes broke out on Saturday, leaving at least one person dead and six others, including three civilians, wounded.
Dozens of Paktia residents held a protest near the border on Tuesday, calling for an end to the skirmishes.
They chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and said the people near the border need to live in peace.
This comes just days after another border shooting took place. This time at Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar province, which left one Pakistani soldier dead. Following the incident, the border crossing was closed to trade and passengers for one week.
