Clashes on Pakistan- Afghanistan border kill 15

Ten fighters and five soldiers dead after border
posts targeted in attacks claimed by a faction of
Pakistani Taliban.

At least 15 people have been killed in clashes on the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Pakistani Taliban fighters
attacked three border posts in Pakistan's Mohmand tribal
area, according to the military.

A Pakistan military statement said on Monday that 10 
fighters were killed and five soldiers lost their lives in the attacks that occurred late on Sunday.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,500km-long border,
 which is largely unpatrolled and disputed by Afghanistan.

"[This attack] emphasises the need for required physical
presence on the Afghan side of the border," the statement
said.

"Terrorists are a common threat and must be denied 
freedom of movement or action along the border."

In a statement emailed to journalists, the Jamaat-ur-Ahrar
faction of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-
Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

"This attack was a part of Jamaat-ur-Ahrar's previously
announced Operation Ghazi, which targets the enemies of
Islam and is ongoing with full force," the statement said.

The group has claimed responsibility for a number of 
attacks last month, including suicide bombings against
 police in the eastern city of Lahore; attacks on government employees in the northwestern town of Ghalanai ; and an explosion in a court complex in Charsadda district.

Pakistan sealed all border crossings with its northwestern
neighbour following those attacks, which together with the
 88 killed at a shrine in Sindh province claimed more than
 120 lives.

Pakistan's foreign office announced on Monday that two
border crossings would be reopened for 48 hours on
Tuesday to allow stranded visitors in either country to 
return home.

That announcement came hours after a senior Afghan
diplomat was summoned to the foreign office to protest 
over the latest border attacks, urging Afghanistan to "take 
firm action against terrorists operating from its soil to prevent
recurrence of such incidents", according to a statement.

The statement said a soldier was killed in a similar attack
 on a border post in Pakistan's Khyber tribal area.

Afghanistan denies it has allowed its territory to be used
against Pakistan, accusing its neighbour of giving sanctuary to leaders of the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
Pakistan denies the charge.

Last month, both countries exchanged lists of fighters 
they believed to be hiding in each other's territory, demanding
action be taken against them.