Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated sharply on Saturday as firefights erupted along the Durand Line. Taliban-led Afghan forces reportedly seized multiple Pakistani Army outposts in Kunar and Helmand provinces, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense. At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several injured, sources told TOLOnews. Heavy fighting continues in Bahramcha’s Shakij, Bibi Jani, and Salehan areas, and across Paktia’s Aryub Zazi district.
00:00And at the top of this hour, we're getting some breaking news.
00:03Pakistan versus Taliban firefight rages on Pakistan.
00:06Afghanistan border tensions rise after Pakistan's airstrikes on Taliban.
00:11Taliban forces now launch attack on Pakistan posts.
00:15Afghanistan says three Pakistan military posts have been captured.
00:20In fact, Afghanistan also claims that 12 Pakistani army personnel have been killed in the attack.
00:27Taliban claims five Pakistani army personnel surrendered.
00:32This is what the Afghanistan is claiming.
00:34As per sources, Pakistan suffers more casualties.
00:37And Saudi Arabia, Qatar condemned the Pakistan and Afghanistan border class.
00:42So that's the latest that's coming in.
00:44The Pakistan versus Taliban firefight rages on.
00:47And in the latest, the Afghanistan claims that they have launched attack on Pakistani posts.
00:54And three Pakistan military posts have been captured.
00:57India Today Global's Pranir Pajai is now joining us with more details on this.
01:02Pranir, the tensions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is rising,
01:06with Afghanistan now claiming that three Pakistan military posts have been captured.
01:10Give us more details.
01:11Not only that, the Afghanistan side is also claiming that around 12 Pakistani soldiers have been killed.
01:18Some of the Pakistani soldiers are in the Afghan captivity.
01:23They have also seized some of the Pakistani posts, as you mentioned.
01:27And this is after the recent so-called airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani side,
01:33in the Pakistan region and even in Kabul.
01:38So, and this has come at a time when the Pakistan, when Afghanistan, Afghan foreign minister is in India.
01:44And, you know, the Pakistan chose to carry out these operations at this point of time.
01:49And after that, the Afghan side not only warned Pakistan, but then once again the border tension started between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
01:59This is not for the first time actually in the last four years.
02:02If you see, after Taliban came to power, then, you know, the kind of,
02:09one of me, Pakistan was expecting from Taliban was lost.
02:13And this is because of the historical reason of the Durin line.
02:18The Durin line is a line which divides with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
02:22Pakistan is considered as an international border and wants Afghanistan to recognize it.
02:27But it is not the case.
02:30And as far as the air operations are concerned, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan to harbor the TTC,
02:37the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, with which Pakistan is having a conflict in the Faiber-Pakshun Khawai region.
02:44And Pakistan is accusing that, you know, these elements of TTP are being harbored by the Taliban of Afghanistan.
02:54And they are not taking action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
02:59In fact, the recent airstrike which Pakistan carried out was also to eliminate the Durin-Mahsoud leader of the Iraqi Taliban Pakistan.
03:09However, you know, there are reports that Durin-Mahsoud has survived.
03:13He is safe.
03:16You know, the partisan field is to eliminate this figure.
03:20But if you see the context of this conflict, this is not only the old border dispute,
03:28but also the recent conflict or recent acquisition leveled by Pakistan against the Afghan government and Taliban.
03:40Right.
03:40Rane, also help us understand the broader geopolitical implications of this conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
03:50If you see the broader aspect of this conflict, look, as far as the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,
03:57and in the last five, four years, there have been many flare-ups, be it at the Torkham border, be it at the Chaman border.
04:04And then there are various reasons, because why, you know, the way Pakistan started pushing back and sending back many Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan.
04:18Besides that, Pakistan is alleging that Afghanistan is harboring the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and not taking any action.
04:26And they are accusing Afghanistan of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
04:33See, the irony here is that Pakistan, which is known for, globally known for sponsoring terrorism and using terror outfit as a foreign policy tool,
04:41is now accusing Afghanistan here.
04:44But having said that, if you see the geopolitical caste system that Pakistan wanted to show their strength,
04:49Afghanistan doesn't have that kind of military power, but if you see the recent conference between Pakistan,
04:58or recent clear-ups between Pakistan and Afghanistan,
05:01the Afghan forces always claim that they have seized, you know, some of the Pakistani soldiers,
05:09they have seized some of the Afghans, some of the Pakistani posts,
05:13and, you know, every time the conflict ended in some kind of dialogue and diplomacy.
05:21And that's why they are visiting Afghan foreign minister, Anur Wali,
05:26Amir Khan Mutaki.
05:28So, in response to today's question, he said that, you know,
05:32the patience of Afghan people shouldn't be tested by Pakistan.
05:35And, you know, there is a way for dialogue and diplomacy,
05:40but if Pakistan doesn't want to use the root of dialogue and diplomacy,
05:43then Afghan people know how to resist and how to respond.
05:47And that's why you can see that there are not only statements by the Afghan leaders,
05:52the Taliban leaders, but the Taliban fighters who are now the Afghan army are engaging with Pakistan.
06:01But in the larger aspect of it, the recent issue of the United States claiming Bagram ways,
06:09Pakistan supporting Bagram takeover by the United States,
06:14countries like China, India, Russia, and various other countries opposed this idea
06:18and supported the Afghan sovereignty.
06:21Right. Prane, thank you so much for getting us all those details and for that context.
06:24We'll keep coming back to you for more updates on this show.
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