Fierce Fighting, Deaths Reported Along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border

"Fierce fighting has broken out in at least five locations, with multiple soldiers killed, in a flare-up of violence between Pakistani and Afghan forces near the two countries' tense border. Pakistani security sources near the border region early on October 12 confirmed to RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that three Pakistani soldiers and one civilian were killed and five soldiers were injured in the fighting and a subsequent response by the Pakistan military."

"Pakistani sources said several Taliban border posts had been destroyed inside Afghanistan during its retaliatory actions. Casualties on the Afghan side were not immediately known. 'In a prompt and intense response, Pakistani forces effectively targeted several Afghan border posts,' security officials confirmed to Dawn news. Security sources told Dawnn that Pakistan was using artillery, tanks, and light and heavy weapons in its actions."

"Afghanistan's Taliban rulers confirmed that their forces carried out 'successful retaliatory operations along the Durand Line against the centers of Pakistani security forces, in response to repeated violations of Afghanistan's airspace and territory.' The 2,600-kilometer Afghan-Pakistan border is often referred to as the colonial-era Durand Line, which set the international border in 1893. The Taliban Defense Ministry said the operation ended by midnight local time."

Fierce fighting broke out in at least five locations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing multiple soldiers and one civilian and wounding others. Pakistani security sources reported three soldiers killed and five injured. Some Pakistani civilians fled toward safer locations. Pakistani forces said they targeted and destroyed Taliban border posts inside Afghanistan and used artillery, tanks, and light and heavy weapons. Pakistan reported shooting down three Afghan quadcopters. Afghanistan's Taliban said their forces conducted retaliatory operations along the Durand Line and that the operation ended by midnight, while clashes continued in several border provinces and Afghan casualties remained unknown.

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