Afghanistan says 28 fighters killed, 32 captured after crossing from Pakistan

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in Nuristan after armed groups, including alleged Islamic State members, crossed the border from Pakistan on Saturday.

The ministry said the groups entered Afghanistan near the Kamdesh district, which borders Pakistan, intending to carry out attacks and destabilise the area. It alleged that the fighters had received support and encouragement from Pakistani security agencies.

Afghan forces then launched an operation against the groups, according to the ministry.

“Twenty-eight of them were killed, while another 32 were captured alive. A number of others also fled back across the Durand Line or to the centres of the Pakistani militias,” the ministry said.

Kabul alleges Pakistani support

The Ministry of Defence also alleged that Pakistani military personnel, Pakistan-affiliated armed groups and Islamic State members had coordinated with the fighters, but had withdrawn after clashes began.

It further claimed that most of those involved were former members of the Afghan security forces under the country’s previous government.

According to the ministry, Pakistani intelligence agencies had promised some former Afghan security personnel high salaries and asylum abroad before bringing them to Pakistan and transferring them to camps near the border for military training.

“After receiving short-term military training, they were sent to Afghanistan to create insecurity in parts of Nuristan Province,” the ministry said.

No evidence to support the allegations was presented in the statement and AnewZ could not independently verify the circumstances surrounding the fighting.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry rejected the Afghan allegations and denied that the country’s security or intelligence agencies had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel, or supported Islamic State or other armed groups operating in Afghanistan.

Dispute follows Pakistani airstrikes

The latest accusations come less than a week after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan on 21 September.

Pakistan said the strikes killed 28 militants. Afghan officials said three civilians were killed, while the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan confirmed that a man, a woman and a girl had died.

Afghanistan condemned the strikes. Pakistan, meanwhile, has repeatedly accused armed groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks across the border, claims Kabul has rejected.

Read more: 

• Pakistan and Afghanistan trade accusations over Nuristan clashes
• Afghanistan says 28 fighters killed after crossing from Pakistan
• Pakistan strikes 10 sites in Afghanistan as tensions escalate

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Afghanistan Pakistan Islamic state Nuristan province Airstrikes