Assalamu alaikum - Over a dozen civilians killed in Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes, Taliban says
Assalamu alaikum. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un - may Allah grant mercy to those who lost their lives.
Fresh fighting broke out between Afghan and Pakistani forces on Wednesday, and the Afghan Taliban say more than 12 civilians were killed and over 100 were wounded. The Taliban spokesman said the attacks came early in the morning and that they also inflicted heavy losses on Pakistani troops, captured posts and seized weapons and tanks.
Pakistan says Taliban forces attacked a post near Chaman, and Pakistani officials reported four civilians wounded on their side. One regional administrator said the clash lasted about five hours and that Pakistani forces had pushed back the assault.
Tensions have risen after Islamabad called on the Afghan Taliban administration to act against militants it says are launching attacks from havens inside Afghanistan. The Taliban denies that Pakistani militants are based there.
The fighting, the worst since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021, prompted both countries to close several border crossings, stopping trade and leaving many loaded trucks stranded. Pakistan is a major source of food and goods for landlocked Afghanistan, so the closures hurt ordinary people on both sides.
The violence drew international concern: China asked both sides to protect its citizens and investments, Russia urged restraint, and the US president said he could help bring an end to the clashes. The tensions also coincided with Afghan Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, during which the two sides agreed to upgrade ties and reopen diplomatic channels.
May Allah protect civilians and soften hearts so diplomacy can bring peace.
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