The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, on Wednesday voiced alarm over reports of civilian casualties and displacement resulting from ongoing clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces.
“I am deeply concerned by reports of numerous civilian
casualties as well as displacement caused by ongoing armed clashes on the
Afghanistan-Pakistan border,” Bennett said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I
urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and abide by
international law.”
His comments came as fighting erupted earlier Wednesday in
the Terwo district of eastern Paktika province, according to Afghanistan’s
state-run television under Taliban control. The broadcaster reported that
Pakistani troops attacked Taliban positions around 9 a.m. local time, sparking
exchanges of both light and heavy gunfire that could be heard across the area.
There were no immediate reports on casualties, but local
sources said residents have begun fleeing their homes amid fears of further
violence.
Border tensions between the Taliban-led government in Kabul
and Islamabad have intensified in recent weeks, with each side accusing the
other of cross-border attacks. Despite growing international concern, the
clashes show no sign of easing, raising worries about regional instability and
the humanitarian toll on communities living near the frontier.
