Turkmenistan guards clash with Taliban at border

Turkmen border guards clashed with the Taliban near the Afghan border on Monday, reported local media.

While details of the clashes remain unclear, its thought to be related to an incident that took place three days ago when Turkmen border guards killed a civilian and injured another.

When Taliban forces went to investigate the matter on Monday, the Turkmen border guards fired at them. The Taliban also opened fire, reported the head of the Taliban’s provincial department of information, Helal Balkhi.

"The Islamic Emirate forces went there and wanted to investigate the death of a civilian" when Turkmen border guards "started firing from the border side (...) and some shots were exchanged between the two sides," Jozjan Police Chief Malavi Sarajulding told EFE news agency.

No casualties were reported.                                  

In December, the Taliban have had similar clashes along Afghanistan’s border with Iran and Pakistan.