MIDDLE EAST – Heavy fighting erupted on Saturday along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border after days of mounting tension and mutual accusations between the two neighboring countries.
According to international reports, the clashes escalated shortly after Pakistan urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government to take action against their forces allegedly carrying out attacks inside their territory.
The Taliban, however, denied doing any act.
Meanwhile, the situation worsened when the Taliban had previously blamed Pakistan of launching airstrikes on the country’s capital Kabul and a marketplace in eastern Afghanistan last Thursday.
Pakistan has not officially acknowledged the allegations.
As an act of retaliation, Taliban forces opened fire on Pakistani border posts over the weekend, prompting Pakistan to respond.
Both sides later claimed to have destroyed multiple border posts belonging to the other.
Meanwhile, the intense clashes brought dozens of fighters killed, according to Reuters.
The Pakistan military reported 23 soldiers dead, while the Taliban said nine of its forces were killed.
Officials from both nations said the situation has since calmed down as of the time being, following mediation efforts by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, the border is temporarily closed but still is on high alert.