Afghanistan and Pakistan trade claims after reported Nuristan deaths

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says its forces killed 28 fighters in clashes in eastern Nuristan on Sunday after they crossed from Pakistan. The reported toll and account of the crossing have not been independently verified in the source material.

The ministry alleged that most of the fighters were former Afghan government security personnel recruited by Pakistan’s intelligence services, and that the group included ISIL members supported by Pakistani militias.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected the allegations as baseless. It denied that Pakistani security forces or intelligence agencies were involved in the clashes, had recruited or trained former Afghan personnel, or had supported ISIL or other armed groups in Afghanistan.

Pakistan urged the Taliban to take credible, verifiable action against armed groups operating from Afghan territory. Kabul has previously denied Pakistan’s accusation that Afghanistan shelters fighters who attack across the border.

The Nuristan clashes come amid rising tensions and follow Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan on 21 and 24 September. Islamabad said the strikes targeted sites linked to cross-border attacks. Afghan officials reported civilian deaths in the 21 September strikes; the UN mission confirmed three.