At least five people were killed in a fresh outbreak of heavy firing along the volatile border between Pakistan and Afghanistan late Friday, officials from both sides confirmed. The incident deepens tensions just days after high-stakes peace talks between the neighbours collapsed without progress.
Exchange of Fire and Conflicting Narratives
The clash erupted along the border near Afghanistan's Spin Boldak district in Kandahar province. Each side accused the other of violating a fragile two-month ceasefire that had been in place.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district. Providing details, Ali Mohammad Haqmal, the head of information for Spin Boldak district, blamed Pakistan for the ceasefire violation. He claimed the Afghan side did not respond for 10-15 minutes after Pakistani forces began shooting. Once they did respond, Haqmal said, the Afghan side stopped firing "within an hour," but alleged that shooting from the Pakistani side continued until Saturday morning.
Abidullah Farooqi, a spokesman for the Afghan border police, said Pakistani forces first threw a hand grenade into the Afghan side of the Spin Boldak border area, prompting their response.
Casualties and Pakistan's Counter-Claim
Afghan Taliban deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitra, told Reuters that Pakistani shelling killed five people, including one Taliban member. The other four casualties were civilians.
Islamabad, however, offered a starkly different account. A spokesperson for Pakistan's prime minister accused Afghan forces of initiating "unprovoked firing" along the Chaman border. "Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens," spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.
Mohammad Sadiq, a local Pakistani police official, supported this version, claiming the shooting started from the Afghan side and that Pakistani troops returned fire near the key Chaman border crossing. A hospital official in Chaman town reported that three people, including a woman, were injured by shooting and shelling from the Afghan side. Police said the hostilities continued until dawn on Saturday.
Broader Context of Strained Relations
This exchange of fire comes nearly a week after a fresh round of peace talks ended without a breakthrough. Despite agreeing to maintain the fragile ceasefire, negotiators meeting in Saudi Arabia failed to break the impasse that has persisted through multiple meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
These talks were aimed at reducing tensions after deadly border clashes in October, which killed dozens and marked the worst violence since the Taliban seized power in 2021. At the core of the standoff is Pakistan's allegation that Afghan-based militants have recently carried out attacks on its soil. Kabul has rejected these accusations, stating it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan's internal security challenges.
The clash is particularly notable as it occurred just a day after Pakistan said it would allow the United Nations to send relief supplies into Afghanistan through the Chaman and Torkham border crossings. These crossings have been mostly closed for nearly two months amid the escalating tensions, highlighting the complex and contradictory nature of the bilateral relationship.
