At least eight civilians were killed and eleven others were wounded following mortar attacks by Pakistani forces on the Sarkano district in Kunar, as well as Asadabad, the provincial capital, according to the local officials in the area.

Afghan military personnel were also killed in the attacks, said the officials, adding that several Afghan forces checkpoints were also destroyed in the attack.

Local officials in Kunar have said that the firefight between Afghan and Pakistani forces broke out after Pakistani forces tried to establish new check posts inside the Afghan territory.

“Pakistani military forces came in a helicopter and they wanted to create checkpoints, so our security forces did not allow this and then clashes broke out,” said Din Mohammad Safai, a member of Kunar's provincial council. 

“We will not abandon this area up until the lost drop of our blood and we will defend our motherland,” said Ibrahim, an officer of the Afghan Border Forces.

“Bullets came and took the life of my son,” said Zahirullah, a resident in Kunar.

Five months back, similar clashes broke out in the same area between Afghan and Pakistani forces.