Afghanistan and Pakistan Trade Accusations After Nuristan Clashes

The Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan reported that its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others, including alleged Islamic State members, in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan province on September 26. Afghan authorities alleged the militants crossed from Pakistan and were supported by Pakistani intelligence agencies, claiming former Afghan security personnel were lured to Pakistan with promises of asylum and salaries before being trained and sent back to create insecurity.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan rejected these claims as frivolous and baseless, denying any involvement in the clashes or the recruitment of Afghan personnel. Pakistan urged the Taliban-led government to take verifiable action against terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil.

This diplomatic friction follows a period of military escalation. The Military of Pakistan recently conducted airstrikes on 10 locations in eastern Afghanistan targeting drone operations. While Pakistan claimed these strikes targeted fighters, Afghan officials and the United Nations reported three civilian deaths. Simultaneously, the Pakistani military reported killing more than 71 militants, including members of the Pakistani Taliban and the Baloch Liberation Army, in Balochistan province over a 96-hour period.