Pakistan handed over 46 Afghan soldiers who crossed over and took refuge in the Pakistani territory to Afghanistan, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported.  

According to ISPR, the Pakistani forces hand over military men and border police, including five officers, to Afghan authorities at 12:35am.

They took refuge after due process, the Pakistani military media wing said. It added their arms and ammunition were also handed over the Afghan authorities.

Earlier, ISPR DG Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that Afghan soldiers and border police crossed the Pakistani border from Chitral last night as they were unable to hold their military posts.

Pakistan provided them with temporary refuge food and necessary medical care. 

The situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating as fighting intensified between Afghan Taliban and Afghan Armed forces. Last week, the Afghan Taliban claimed to raise their flag after capturing key town Spin Boldak from the Afghan side at the Chaman border crossing.

This is not the first time Afghan forces flee to a neighbouring country to take refuge as over 1,000 Afghan soldiers fled into neighbouring Tajikistan on June 5 to escape clashes with Taliban insurgents who have mounted an aggressive offensive as NATO forces withdraw, according to Tajik border officials.