An Afghan delegation has arrived in Quetta to press Pakistani authorities for the handover of 18 Afghan nationals killed during a confrontation with security forces in Balochistan’s Zhob district.
According to Afghan officials, on the night of August 8–9, a group of 20 Afghans carried out an attack on Pakistani security personnel in the Smbaza area. Security forces retaliated, killing 18 attackers on the spot, while two managed to flee. The delegation insists the bodies should be returned to their families on humanitarian grounds.
Pakistani authorities, however, argue that the group was directly involved in a cross-border assault that posed a serious threat to national security. Officials say the incident highlights the recurring challenge of militant infiltration from Afghan territory, an issue that has strained bilateral ties for years.
The demand for the bodies has now become another flashpoint between Islamabad and Kabul, underscoring deep mistrust over border management and militant sanctuaries, as both sides continue to exchange accusations over security failures.
