5 Pakistani soldiers killed in border clashes with militants during Afghanistan talks

In a statement reported by Reuters, Pakistan’s military said the attempts to cross the border raised questions about the Afghan government’s approach to groups operating from its territory, saying it cast doubt on Kabul’s “intentions in regards to addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil”.

However, as per Reuters report, Afghan officials did not respond to requests for comment. The Taliban government has previously said it does not give shelter to militants and has accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty with military strikes.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that a recent truce was still in place and that Afghanistan wanted peace, but he warned that failure to agree in Istanbul would mean

Talks in Istanbul come after major clashes between their forces earlier this month the most serious since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. Those clashes included artillery exchanges and Pakistani airstrikes before both sides reached a temporary truce in Doha last week.

Pakistan’s military described those involved in the recent infiltration as members of “Fitna al Khwarij”, a term it uses for groups inspired by militant ideology and backed by what it calls “foreign sponsors”.

Pakistan says fighters based inside Afghanistan have carried out attacks on its soil in recent months. It has called on the Taliban to act against groups that Pakistan believes are using Afghan territory as a base. Relations between the neighbours have worsened since 2021, despite efforts to maintain cooperation along their long, porous border.

(With inputs from Reuters)