TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pakistan said its military posts along the border came under attack by Afghan Taliban forces on Tuesday, sparking renewed clashes that killed 67 Afghan troops and one Pakistani soldier.
Afghanistan rejected that account as "baseless." The Taliban government in Kabul instead said its forces had successfully repelled attacks from Pakistan and killed four Pakistani soldiers.
Fighting between the two countries erupted on Thursday last week, when Afghan Taliban troops launched a border offensive in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes carried out the previous weekend.
Since then, Islamabad has declared it is in an "open war" with Afghanistan and has carried out new strikes on multiple sites, including the former US air base at Bagram, the capital, Kabul, and the southern city of Kandahar.
UN says civilians caught up in the war
The UN mission in Afghanistan reported that 42 civilians had been killed and 104 wounded since Thursday, while the UN World Food Program said the violence had led to the "displacement of approximately 20,000 families."
The UN mission called for an immediate halt to the fighting, saying it was causing the already dire humanitarian situation to deteriorate.
Differing casualty numbers
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khowarazmi said at a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday that, in the last 24 hours, Afghan Taliban forces had conducted a counteroffensive along the Durand Line — a disputed border between the two countries.
He said 28 Afghan soldiers had been killed in the conflict so far, with around 150 Pakistani troop fatalities.
Pakistan's figures different significantly, with an estimated 150 Pakistani troops dead and more than 450 Afghan soldiers killed since the start of the conflict.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
What is the conflict about?
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring armed militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible for staging attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul rejects the charge.
Afghan Defense Minister Khawarazmi reiterated Tuesday that the government "will not allow any person or group to use our territory against other countries."
The latest violence is the worst seen in the region since October, when fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides. Several rounds of peace talks were held in November in Turkey, but they ended without a lasting agreement.
Pakistan has said that it plans to continue its military operations until Afghanistan takes steps to rein in the TTP and other militant groups.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday it was "never too late to talk," but at the same time pledged to "finish this menace."
Read: Pakistan Imposes Curfew After Deadly Iran Protests
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Pakistan Imposes Curfew After Deadly Iran Protests
15 jam lalu
Pakistan has deployed the military and imposed a three-day curfew following deadly protests against the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Afghan Taliban Reportedly Target Pakistani Jets Over Kabul
1 hari lalu
The Taliban say they engaged Pakistani jets in the skies over Kabul as the fighting between the Pakistani military and the Afghan militants continues.
Pakistan: Several Killed in Violent Protest at US Consulate
1 hari lalu
Several people have been killed at protests outside the US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Indonesia Supports Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Talks
3 hari lalu
Indonesia urges Pakistan and Afghanistan to seek peaceful solutions and dialogue to ease armed conflicts at the border.
Pakistan Says at 'Open War' with Afghanistan Amid Clashes
4 hari lalu
Explosions were reported in Kabul after Afghan forces launched a border offensive late Thursday. Fresh clashes are also being reported.
Afghan Taliban Attacks Met with Pakistani Strikes on Kabul
4 hari lalu
The Taliban claimed to have captured several Pakistani checkpoints in border areas, killing and capturing soldiers.
Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan Leave 17 Dead
9 hari lalu
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said Pakistani attacks hit a school and homes, killing and wounding dozens of people.
Prabowo Hosts Pakistani Ambassador, Air Chief at Jakarta Palace
19 hari lalu
Prabowo met a Pakistani delegation, with Ambassador Zahid noting historic ties and closer relations after Prabowo's recent Pakistan visit.
ISIS Takes Credit for Deadly Attack on Shia Mosque in Pakistan
24 hari lalu
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President Putin strongly condemned the suicide bombing in the Imambargah Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, which killed 31 people and injured 169 others during Friday prayers.
At Least 15 Killed in Islamabad Shia Mosque Explosion
25 hari lalu
At least 15 people died and 80 were injured after an explosion struck a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan during Friday prayers.
