Fresh conflict sparks between Taliban & Pak military, Taliban uproot fencing

Kabul/Peshawar: The Pakistan Army had claimed to have resolved the Durand Line dispute through discussions with the Taliban in Afghanistan. But since Saturday, a new conflict has started between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army on the Durand Line border in Paktia. The Taliban informed that it was retaliating strongly against the Pakistan Army. A Taliban commander called for a crusade against Pakistan. Meanwhile, a video has emerged of the Taliban tearing down a barbed wire fence along another stretch of the Durand Line. There are reports of Pakistani soldiers fleeing the border posts, fearing the Taliban.

Last week, a video surfaced of a Pakistani Army soldier being killed in a firing by a Taliban commander along the Spin Boldak-Chaman border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Enraged by this, Pakistan closed the border with Afghanistan and stopped trade. After this, a conflict broke out between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army for three successive days. Afghan media published the news that two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were killed in this.

The conflict ended after talks between Taliban and Pakistani leaders. After this, Pakistan claimed that the Durand Line dispute was settled. But since Saturday, fresh exchange of fire has started between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army. The Taliban spokesman informed that the clashes broke out on the border of Dand-e-Patan in the Paktia province of Afghanistan.

Earlier, Pakistan Army launched attacks on Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban positions near the border of Paktia province. Meanwhile, a video has gone viral of the Taliban tearing down a barbed wire fence along another part of the border, the Durand Line, which is a point of contention between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan army personnel were not there when the Taliban carried out this operation. That is why Pakistan is being mocked on social media. At the same time, another video of Pakistani soldiers running away from the border posts, terrified by Taliban attacks, has also come to light.

The dispute regarding the Durand Line, dividing Afghanistan and Pakistan, has not been resolved for many years. The Durand Line restricted by the British divides the Pashtun people among both countries and it is Afghanistan’s clear stand that it is not acceptable to them. Pakistan has erected a barbed wire fence in this area, claiming that the Durand Line is the border. During the tenure of the People’s Government of Afghanistan and former President Ashraf Ghani, the conflict between the Afghani and Pakistani armies had been ignited over the Durand Line dispute.

The Taliban, who have taken over power in Afghanistan since last year, has become more aggressive without changing their stance on the Durand Line. Incidents of conflict between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army have increased. Local Taliban leaders and commanders claim that the Afghanistan border extends until Attock in Pakistan. Also, the local leaders of the Taliban are threatening to launch fierce attacks soon to free the people of Pakistan from the corrupt government and army.