The first Afghan vice president accused Pakistani forces of supporting the Taliban after taking control of a key border post.

Pakistan has rejected allegations by a senior Afghan official that it provided “close air support” to the Afghan Taliban after the armed group took control of a key border post between the two countries, according to a statement from Pakistan. Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said Thursday evening that Pakistani forces were supporting the Afghan Taliban after taking control of the Spin Boldak border post with Pakistan in Kandahar province earlier this week.

Saleh alleged that the Pakistani Air Force had “issued an official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any attempt to dislodge the Taliban from the Spin Boldak area would be confronted and repelled by the Army of Pakistani air ”.

The senior Afghan official accused Pakistan of providing “close air support to the Taliban in certain areas”.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said the Pakistan Air Force was limited to protecting Pakistani airspace.

“The Afghan side has informed Pakistan of its intention to conduct air operations inside its territory in front of the Shaman sector of Pakistan,” the statement said.

“Pakistan has responded positively to the right of the Afghan government to act on its territory. Despite very close border operations which internationally accepted norms / norms / procedures do not normally meet, Pakistan has taken the necessary measures on its territory to protect its own troops and its people.

The statement said Pakistan recognizes the “right of the Afghan government to take action on its sovereign territory.”

The feud comes after Afghan Taliban forces took control of the Spin Boldak crossing point, known as the Shaman on the Pakistani side of the border, on Wednesday.

The Afghan Taliban’s white flag replaced the Afghan government’s flag at the border post, and it remained in place on Friday, although fighting continued.

Pakistani authorities told Al Jazeera they reopened the border post, which is one of the main trade and travel routes between the two countries, on Thursday for a short period to allow stranded Afghans and Pakistanis to return. at home if they wanted.

The border remained closed on Friday, according to a statement from the authorities in Chaman.

The United States is a few weeks away from a complete withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, as part of a peace agreement signed with the Afghan Taliban in February 2020.

In recent days, the Afghan Taliban have launched a massive offensive across the country, seizing control of several district capitals from Afghan government forces.

Direct peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the months-stalled Afghan government are set to resume in the Qatari capital Doha, with senior officials saying talks could take place on Friday.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Thursday that its plans to hold a three-day Afghan peace conference in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad from Saturday remained unchanged, with several senior Afghan leaders invited to the talks.