RASC News Agency: Local sources in Kunduz province have confirmed that six Afghanistani Taliban fighters were killed and five others injured during clashes with the Pakistani military. Reports on Saturday, December 7, revealed that the fighters had crossed into Pakistan to assist Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to the sources, the deceased fighters hailed from Maidan Wardak, Kapisa, Baghlan, and Kunduz provinces. However, precise details about the location of the confrontation remain unavailable.
The Taliban has not issued a statement regarding the incident. This follows reports from last week, which indicated that several Afghanistani Taliban fighters were killed in skirmishes with the Pakistani army in the tribal region of Kurram Agency. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly accused the Afghanistani Taliban of enabling militant operations against Pakistan, specifically by providing sanctuary to TTP operatives. While the Taliban has consistently dismissed such claims, credible regional and international reports corroborate the presence of over 10,000 foreign fighters affiliated with various extremist groups operating under the Taliban’s umbrella in Afghanistan.
Among these groups, the TTP stands out as a significant presence. According to well-placed sources in Pakistan, more than 50,000 TTP militants fought alongside the Afghanistani Taliban during their insurgency, aiding in their eventual takeover of Afghanistan. Following the Taliban’s return to power, thousands of these fighters relocated to Pakistan to wage a renewed insurgency, while thousands more remained in Afghanistan. Reports suggest that Afghanistan has now been repurposed as a strategic military and intelligence base for operations against Pakistan, mirroring the support that Pakistan once provided for militant campaigns against Afghanistan.
