Pakistani security forces killed several Afghan Taliban fighters during a clash on the border in the Gulistan sector of Balochistan, Pakistani security sources said Friday as tensions between the neighbours escalated, Al Jazeera reported.
The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said the fighters tried to cross into Pakistani territory and mount what Pakistani sources called an act of aggression. According to the sources, intermittent fire exchanges continued past midnight.
The clash erupted after Pakistan carried out air and drone strikes in 10 locations in Afghanistan on Thursday. Islamabad said the strikes targeted sites used for launching and storing drones after it said the drones had entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan.
Pakistan said its strikes were in “self-defence” and targeted military installations involved in attacks against Pakistan, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied involvement in the reported drone attacks and condemned the Pakistani strikes. Reports said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes killed four civilians and warned Kabul would give an “appropriate response”.
The fresh fighting comes as tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have flared anew after months of relative calm.
