Deadly Taliban attack kills 12 PAK soldiers, 5 taken hostage

Kabul (Uttam Hindu News): Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have now escalated into open conflict. Following an alleged airstrike by Pakistan on Kabul late Thursday night, the Afghan army retaliated by attacking Pakistani border posts on Saturday night. According to Afghan media reports, 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack.

According to security sources, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEM) forces shelled Pakistani positions near the Durand Line in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. A Pakistani armored tank was captured by Afghan forces in the clashes. Five Pakistani soldiers surrendered to Taliban forces in the Maiwand district of Kandahar.

Taliban fighters wreaked havoc… 12 Pak Army soldiers killed, 5 surrendered: Senior Taliban officials said that this action was taken in response to airstrikes by Pakistan in Afghan territory. Taliban claimed that they have gained control of two Pakistani posts in the southern part of Helmand province. The border clash has also been confirmed from the Pakistani side. A senior Pakistani official said that Taliban forces started firing at several posts at night, after which the Pakistani army retaliated.

Following Thursday's bombings in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan, the Taliban government accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty. Islamabad did not claim responsibility for the attacks, but it demanded that Afghanistan cease supporting the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan). TTP fighters are reported to be sheltering in Afghanistan and have ideological ties to the Afghan Taliban. Hundreds of Pakistani soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by the TTP since 2021.

Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is visiting India. This is his first visit to India since the Taliban came to power in 2021. Experts believe that Pakistan is feeling uneasy about the strengthening of India-Afghanistan relations, and this tension has become a factor in the current conflict.