Pakistan, Taliban exchange fire again; what we know
What's the story
Intense clashes erupted on Tuesday night between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban along the Kurram district border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to reports in Pakistan's state media. The state broadcaster, PTV News, reported that the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij opened unprovoked fire. "The Pakistani Army responded with full force and intensity," it added. The term "Fitna al-Khawarij" is used by Pakistani authorities to refer to militants of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Counteraction
Taliban fighters fled their positions after exchange of fire
PTV News reported that Afghan Taliban posts were heavily damaged, with at least one tank being destroyed. The Taliban fighters reportedly fled their positions after the exchange of fire. Later updates from PTV News said that "another post and tank position of the Afghan Taliban" were destroyed in the Kurram sector. The updates also quoted sources revealing that a key commander of Fitna al-Khawarij was killed in this operation.
Initial assault
Clashes come after weekend attack
The clashes come after a reportedly unprovoked attack by Afghan Taliban forces on Pakistani border posts over the weekend. Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said this attack killed 23 Pakistani troops. However, the Taliban government in Afghanistan had claimed that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed in strikes on Saturday night. In retaliation, Pakistan claimed to have killed over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants.
Diplomatic tensions
Kabul claims attack was 'retaliatory move'
Kabul has claimed that its attack was a "retaliatory" move, alleging that Islamabad conducted air strikes inside Afghan territory last week. Pakistan has not confirmed these air strikes but reiterated its demand for Kabul to "stop harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on its soil." Islamabad has repeatedly called for the Taliban government to stop terrorist groups from using Afghan territory for cross-border attacks. The two countries share a 2,611-kilometer border known as the Durand Line.
Regional balance
The India element
The clashes came against the backdrop of the visit by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India. New Delhi said it would reopen an embassy in Kabul, calling Muttaqi's visit "an important step in advancing our ties and affirming the enduring friendship" between the two countries. Antoine Levesques, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN that Islamabad and New Delhi have "competed bloodily for influence in Afghanistan for decades."
Reactions
Calls for de-escalation
In light of the clashes, Qatar expressed "concern" over "the potential repercussions for the security and stability of the region," while Saudi Arabia, which recently signed a defense pact with Pakistan, also called for "restraint and dialogue." China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it "sincerely hopes both countries will focus on the bigger picture...and resolve their concerns through dialogue and consultation." Russia also urged a resolution "through diplomatic means."