Abdul Hamid Khorasani, a senior commander of the Taliban, has dispatched his fighters to the border regions of Paktika province in Afghanistan. The move comes as tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to escalate, Aamaj news reports.
Background: The Durand Line Dispute
The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, known as the Durand Line, has been a longstanding point of contention between the two neighboring countries. The demarcation of this border has never been accepted by prior Afghan governments. The Taliban, despite historically relying on Pakistan for support, now challenges Islamabad’s position on the Durand Line. They assert the right to free movement of people across this colonial-era frontier, refusing to recognize it as an international boundary.
Adding complexity to the issue, Pakistan demarcates the Durand Line differently from Afghanistan. Portions of the Pakistani fence lie within what Afghanistan considers its territory. This disagreement has led to clashes along the border, further straining relations between the two nations.
The Recent Escalation
As of today, the conflict between the Taliban and Pakistani border guards has intensified. The exact cause of the recent escalation remains unclear, but it underscores the deep-rooted tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Earlier, it was reported that Pakistan initiated airstrikes in several provinces of Afghanistan on March 18. At approximately 03:00 local time, Pakistani military aircraft conducted an air attack on Barmal city in Paktika province and Sepiri district in Khost. The targeted area, Lehman, is believed to be harboring the "Pakistani Taliban."
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