Afghanistan’s defence ministry says its forces killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 others in the eastern province of Nuristan after a group allegedly crossed the border from Pakistan.
The ministry said the group included Islamic State militants and alleged that Pakistani militias had supported the fighters. It also claimed that most of them were former members of Afghanistan’s previous government security forces.
According to the Afghan defence ministry, the group crossed into Kamdesh district, close to the Pakistani border, on Saturday with the intention of carrying out attacks.
Afghan forces subsequently launched an operation against the group, the ministry said, adding that surviving fighters retreated across the border towards positions held by Pakistani militias.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the Afghan ministry’s account or the reported casualty figures.
The Afghan ministry also alleged that Pakistani armed personnel and militia members coordinated with the fighters before withdrawing when clashes began.
It further accused Pakistani intelligence of bringing former Afghan security personnel to Pakistan under the pretext of providing assistance, before training them and sending them towards Nuristan.
Pakistan’s military and information ministry had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
The latest incident comes less than a week after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan on 21 September.
Islamabad said those strikes targeted militant hideouts and killed 28 militants. Afghan authorities, however, said civilians were among those killed, while the United Nations mission in Afghanistan confirmed three civilian deaths.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of allowing militant groups to operate from its territory and launch attacks across the border. Kabul has denied those allegations.
The latest claims add to already heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries following a series of cross-border attacks and military operations.
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