A clash between the forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani military on Thursday evening at the Ghulam Khan crossing in Gurbuz district of Khost continued until midnight, local officials said, and that the clash occurred after Pakistani military personnel’s inappropriate behavior towards some Afghans provoked a response from the Islamic Emirate forces.
Bahauddin Jan Bilal, the commissioner of Ghulam Khan crossing in Khost, said: “The clash occurred yesterday evening at 6:30 PM. They were prepared from the beginning and were in a combat-ready state, wearing their helmets. When the clash occurred in the afternoon, both sides exchanged fire. We are investigating which side started the shooting first.”
Following this clash, several families have been relocated to safer areas, and the road has been closed to cargo vehicles and passengers.
“When the clash started, it continued until about two o’clock in the night. These issues should be resolved through dialogue,” said Khairuddin, a resident of Khost.
“Many families have been forced to move from here. War brings many problems,” said Mubarak Khan, another resident of Khost.
Meanwhile, drivers report that with the onset of last night’s clash, the Ghulam Khan crossing has been closed to traffic, and hundreds of trucks carrying fresh fruit and vegetables have been halted along this route.
“There was a clash at the Ghulam Khan crossing last night, and the road has been closed. Vegetable and fruit trucks have been stopped, causing significant losses to the people,” Ismatullah, a driver, told TOLOnews.
On September 5, intermittent clashes also continued for several days between the Islamic Emirate forces and Pakistani military in Zazi Maidan district of Khost, along the Durand Line.
