Taliban fighters have clashed with Uzbekistan border security forces after the latter reportedly shot and killed some Afghans fleeing the country, a provincial Taliban leader said. Since August, Taliban forces have repeatedly clashed with border forces of other neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran. 

The incident happened on Monday in the Khumab district of the northern province of Jawzjan, reported Khama Press. Hilal Balkhi, head of the Taliban’s provincial directorate of information and culture, confirmed the incident. 

In the last two weeks, there were reportedly two incidents where the Uzbekistan officials allegedly shot and killed Afghans trying to cross over the border. In one case, officials allegedly buried the man alive. 

On Monday, when local Taliban officials went to investigate the incident, they were fired upon by Uzbekistan border security forces, prompting an exchange of fire from both sides. There is no official confirmation of casualty on either side, nor any word from Kabul on the incident so far.

Ever since the regime change in August, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have escaped the border, crossing into neighboring Iran and Pakistan and even Central Asia. With record unemployment rate, hunger, widespread food shortage, the exodus of Afghans has only intensified over the last several weeks. 

Most border crossing points along the borders with Iran and Pakistan have been witnessing huge crowds and desperate people, trying to make their way out of Afghanistan. In most cases, security officials struggled to control the crowd, leaving officials to resort to tough handling. 

Almost similar clashes took place earlier with Iranian and Pakistani border forces. 

(SAM)