Fresh Fighting in Nuristan Deepens Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions
Afghanistan says its forces killed 28 and wounded 32 fighters in Nuristan near the Pakistani border, alleging that Islamic State members entered from Pakistan and were preparing attacks. It accused Pakistani groups and intelligence agencies of supporting some fighters, including former Afghan security personnel.
Pakistan denied involvement, training, or recruitment and said Afghanistan provided no independent evidence. The clash follows recent cross-border attacks and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, whose casualty claims remain disputed. The Nuristan reports have not been independently verified.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry says its forces have killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 others following an armed clash in Nuristan province near the border with Pakistan.
According to the ministry, the group entered Kamdesh district on Saturday from the direction of Pakistan and included members of Islamic State. Afghan authorities said the group was allegedly preparing to carry out attacks in the area before Afghan forces launched an operation against them.
The Afghan Defence Ministry also accused Pakistani armed groups and intelligence agencies of supporting and training some of the fighters. It said many of those involved were former members of Afghanistan’s security forces who served under the previous government.
Pakistan has rejected the allegations. Its Ministry of Information said there was no Pakistani military or intelligence involvement in the Nuristan fighting and denied claims that Pakistan had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel for such operations.
Islamabad also said Afghanistan had not provided independent evidence supporting the accusations. Pakistan disputed a video circulating online that was presented as evidence of its involvement, saying the footage could not establish the claims.
The latest confrontation comes amid heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Relations have deteriorated in recent days following cross-border attacks and Pakistan’s airstrikes inside Afghanistan earlier this week.
Pakistan said its September 21 airstrikes targeted militant positions and claimed that 28 militants were killed. Afghan authorities disputed aspects of Pakistan’s account and reported civilian casualties. The United Nations also confirmed that three civilians were killed in the strikes.
The Nuristan incident adds another point of tension between the two neighboring countries, which continue to accuse each other of allowing armed groups to operate across their borders.
The claims surrounding the Nuristan clash and the reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
