8 Afghan troops killed in latest border clash, claims Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan on Sunday claimed that at least eight Afghan troops were killed in the latest round of border clashes between the two sides.

Citing unnamed security sources, state-run Pakistan Television reported that Pakistani troops "befittingly" responded to alleged shelling and firing by Afghan border guards, which resulted in casualties.

Pakistani sources claimed that eight Afghan troops, including two "commanders", were killed in fresh round of clashes that began when Taliban forces attempted to construct a security outpost along a porous border, which has long been a bone of contention between the two neighbors.

A spokesman for Afghanistan's Information Ministry told Anadolu that he has no information about the clashes.

"I can tell you only after gathering the exact information about that," he added.

There was no official statement from Pakistan Army's media wing either.

The latest ongoing flareup between the southeastern Afghan border province of Khost and the adjoining Pakistani district of Kurram have reportedly claimed several lives from both sides.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 crossing points along a 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) long border.

The most commonly used ones are Torkham and Chaman, which frequently remain closed due to border clashes.

Afghanistan does not recognize the border commonly known as Durand Line which was established in 1893 in line with an agreement between India under British colonial rule, and Abdur Rahman Khan - the then ruler of Afghanistan.