GENESIS OF TENSIONS | Border disputed as Afghanistan hasnever agreed to the Durand Line dividing the countries

Taliban security personnel inspect a damaged car two days after air strikes by Pakistan in the Barmal district of eastern Paktika province  —AFP

Afghan Taliban forces targeted "several points" in neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan's defence ministry said on Saturday, days after Pakistani aircraft carried out  aerial bombardment inside Afghanistan.

The statement from the Defence Ministry said the strikes were conducted "beyond the 'hypothetical line”,  an expression used by Afghan authorities to refer to a border with Pakistan that they have long disputed.

The recent “clashes” between Afghan and Pakistani border forces at border crossing points, resulted  in the killing of 19 Pakistani soldiers and three Afghan civilians, local media reported on Saturday.

The clashes are going on in eastern Afghanistan's Khost and Paktia provinces, bordering Pakistan, TOLOnews reported, quoting a source from the Afghan Ministry of National Defence. Afghan border forces have set on fire several Pakistani military posts in the Ali Shir district of Khost province and captured two Pakistani posts in the Dand-e-Patan district of Paktia province, it said.

Three Afghan civilians lost their lives due to mortar shells fired by Pakistani soldiers in the Dand-e-Patan district, the source added. The clashes took place following airstrikes carried out by Pakistani troops in Paktika province on Tuesday night that killed 51 people, including women and children.

According  to the Afghan defence ministry,  "Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centres and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country." the ministry said.

Asked whether the statement referred to Pakistan, ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khowarazmi said: "We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.

" Afghanistan has for decades rejected the border, known as the Durand Line, drawn by British colonial authorities in the 19th century through the mountainous and often lawless tribal belt between what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan.

No details of casualties or specific areas targeted were provided. The Pakistani military's public relations wing and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Afghan authorities warned on Wednesday they would retaliate after the Pakistani bombardment, which they said had killed civilians. Islamabad said it had targeted hideouts of Islamist militants along the border.

The neighbours have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil - a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.

The clashes have had a significant impact on the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, exacerbating tensions and hindering efforts to cooperate on various issues. These have also resulted in casualties on both sides and displaced civilians.