Nearly 66,000 Afghans displaced amid fierce fighting on Pakistan border: UN

"The ongoing military confrontation along the Durand Line has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure, and the displacement of nearly 66,000 people in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, the agency said in a statement. These developments risk further displacement, accelerating returns, and exacerbating vulnerabilities in communities that are already overstretched and under-resourced."

"The neighbouring countries are experiencing their worst fighting in years after Afghanistan's Taliban authorities launched an operation last week against the Pakistani military along the 2,640km (1,640-mile) Durand Line, which separates the two nations. The Taliban said the operation was in response to deadly Pakistani air strikes in late February."

"Pakistani authorities have said the strikes aim to stop armed fighters from using Afghan territory to attack the country following weeks of violence and heightened tensions between the two sides. Rana Sanaullah, a political adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, told Geo TV that Islamabad had achieved most targets, but operations continued."

The United Nations International Organization for Migration reports that seven days of heavy fighting along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has displaced approximately 66,000 people in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. The military confrontation stems from Taliban operations launched in response to Pakistani air strikes in late February. Pakistan claims the strikes target armed fighters using Afghan territory for attacks. The violence has caused civilian casualties, damaged critical infrastructure, and created vulnerabilities in already overstretched communities. Both nations report heavy losses and territorial gains. Pakistani officials indicate most training centers have been eliminated but operations continue pending verifiable evidence that Afghan soil will not be used for future attacks.

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