Afghanistan says forces killed 28 fighters crossing from Pakistan

Afghanistan’s defense ministry said its forces killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 in Nuristan’s Kamdesh district after a group crossed from Pakistan on Saturday intending to carry out attacks. The ministry said the group included Islamic State militants and that most members were former Afghan government security personnel. It said Afghan forces launched an operation and surviving fighters fled back across the border toward Pakistani militia positions. The ministry alleged Pakistani militias supported the fighters, that Pakistani armed personnel and militia members coordinated with them but withdrew when fighting began, and that Pakistani intelligence trained and transported the former security personnel under the pretext of assistance. Pakistan’s military and information ministry did not immediately respond. The claims and figures could not be independently verified. The incident came less than a week after Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan on Sept. 21 that Islamabad said targeted militants. Both sides have traded accusations that the other shelters militants.