67 Afghan security members killed in ongoing clashes: Pakistan

AP :

Afghanistan’s ground forces attacked Pakistani military positions at 16 locations along the southwestern border early Tuesday and opened fire at several points in the northwest, the clashes killed 67 Afghan and one Pakistani soldier, entering their fifth day.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country “successfully repelled these multiple attacks” along the Afghan border. In a post on X, he said Afghan troops launched ground assaults in 16 locations across the southwestern districts of Qilla Saifullah, Nushki and Chaman in Balochistan province. In retaliatory action, Pakistani forces killed 27 Afghan security members, he added.
Tarar also said Afghan forces attacked 25 locations in the border areas of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani troops killed 40 Afghan personnel.
There was no immediate response from Kabul regarding the casualty figures released by Pakistan.
Both sides have repeatedly claimed to have inflicted heavy losses since Thursday, when Afghanistan carried out attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has continued border operations. On Monday, Tarar said 435 Afghan security members had been killed and 31 positions captured in the fighting. In recent days, Kabul has also claimed that its forces inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s military.
He urged Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
The latest escalation came a day after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari defended the strikes in Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had exhausted all diplomatic options before targeting militants operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan has described its campaign as an “open war” with Afghanistan, raising international concern. The border region remains a base for militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Islamabad has linked a recent surge in violence to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens to the TTP, an allegation Kabul denies.

The renewed clashes have ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October. Talks held in Istanbul failed to reach a permanent agreement, and Pakistani authorities have said operations will continue until Kabul takes practical and verifiable steps to curb the TTP and other militant groups involved in violence in Pakistan.