RASC News Agency: Security sources in Pakistan and local residents report that Pakistani border guards and Taliban forces recently engaged in a skirmish in the border region adjacent to Kunar province. Sources informed the media on Friday, July 20, that the clash occurred the previous day in Bajaur, a border area with Kunar province, resulting in a “fierce battle” between Taliban forces and the Pakistani military.
As of now, the cause of the conflict remains unclear, and neither Pakistani officials nor the Taliban have issued official statements regarding the incident. It is also not known if there were any casualties. It is worth noting that this is not the first military and border skirmish between the Taliban and Pakistan. Over the past three years, border forces of the Taliban and the Pakistani military have frequently clashed, resulting in casualties.
Additionally, political and diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have been strained due to the activities of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their harboring in Afghanistan. Pakistan has previously conducted operations within Afghanistan territory against TTP militants, and recently, Pakistan’s defense minister once again warned that the Pakistani army would target objectives in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s foreign minister previously claimed that ISIS maintains bases in neighboring countries and uses them to launch attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.