The fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan reportedly continues. Heavy fighting has continued for nine days, particularly in the border region. No path for talks has yet been set.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan claims to have destroyed several Pakistani military posts along the border in Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kunar, Paktia and Khost provinces. Dozens of Pakistani soldiers have reportedly been killed.
Pakistani state media say the fighting is still ongoing and that Afghanistan and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which is reportedly backed by Afghanistan, have suffered “heavy losses.”
A civilian was also killed in a suicide attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region. A local doctor told The Associated Press that 18 others were seriously injured. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Pakistani Taliban regularly attacks Pakistani forces and civilians in the region.
Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
The TTP was formed in 2007 by several jihadist groups operating in northwest Pakistan.
The terrorist group has attacked markets, mosques, airports, military bases and police stations. They have mainly seized areas along the border, as well as deep inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban government of providing sanctuary and financial support to the TTP. It wants the Afghan Taliban to control the group.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan denies all charges and accuses Pakistan of harboring ISIS fighters.
At least 56 Afghan civilians have been killed and 129 wounded since the end of February, according to the United Nations. Almost half of the victims are children. At least 115,000 people in Afghanistan and about 3,000 in Pakistan have also been displaced by the conflict.
The UN human rights chief, Turk, calls the conflict “a mass of misery” and calls for a ceasefire.
No progress
Diplomats around the world have reacted with great concern to the escalating tensions between the two countries. Last week, the Taliban announced they wanted to talk. This week, Afghanistan’s interim leader, Akhund, spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim about possible mediation.
This week, Turkish President Erdogan also offered mediation in a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. It is not yet clear whether this will actually lead to a mediation effort.
At the same time, in the latest case, the Taliban's Ministry of Defense has announced that dozens of Pakistani soldiers have been killed and wounded in the past twenty-four hours, a case on which Pakistan has not yet commented.