PAKTIA / KURRAM: Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews, citing local sources, reported on Saturday that clashes were under way between Afghan forces and Pakistani troops along the Durand Line in Dand Patan district of Paktia province, with both sides using light and heavy weapons. The area lies opposite Pakistan's Kurram district.
According to preliminary reports cited by TOLOnews, local sources claimed two Pakistani soldiers had been killed so far and a Pakistani surveillance camera destroyed. The channel later released a video it said showed a Pakistani gate and a security tower coming under attack. These claims could not be independently verified.
Afghan sources said Pakistani forces fired rockets at civilian areas and a local market known as Chapari. No casualties were reported, but dozens of families living near the Durand Line were forced to leave their homes. TOLOnews said clashes also broke out around noon in Paktia's Aryob Zazi district and lasted until late afternoon, again with no reported casualties.
Afghan news agency Pajhwok, citing local sources, said the fighting began at around 1:30pm in the Qimati, Zhawara and Nari areas of Dand Patan, and those sources also claimed two people on the Pakistani side were killed and a surveillance tower and camera destroyed. Ariana News had earlier confirmed the clashes and said no casualties had been reported at that point.
Pakistan's account: Samaa TV quoted Pakistani security sources as saying the Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked fire in the Taida sector of Upper Kurram and Ghozgarhi, allegedly to help "foreign terrorists" cross the border, and that the Pakistan Army responded effectively. According to those sources, several Afghan Taliban personnel were killed according to initial reports, artillery hit the Topsar post and Shipola base camp, the Shipola camp was completely destroyed, and Taliban personnel vacated a border post.
The Pakistani security sources did not comment on any Pakistani casualties, and at the time of publication neither ISPR nor Afghanistan's defence ministry had issued a formal statement. Casualty claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
Forces of the two countries also clashed in the same border area on October 10–11.
Original reports: TOLOnews, TOLOnews video, Pajhwok and Samaa TV.