Heavy fighting has erupted along the disputed border, with both Islamabad and Kabul accusing the other of shattering a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Fresh border clashes have broken out between Pakistani security forces and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, ending a brief lull in violence that had held for less than a week. The exchange of heavy fire, which began overnight on Friday (5 December), was centred around the key crossing point between the Afghan city of Spin Boldak and the Pakistani town of Chaman.
Medical sources in the nearby Afghan city of Kandahar confirmed they had received the bodies of four people following the skirmish. Residents in the border zone reported fleeing their homes as artillery and machine-gun fire intensified late into the night.
The violence comes just days after a new round of peace talks, mediated by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, had managed to secure a temporary truce. Those talks were aimed at de-escalating tensions following a deadly series of Pakistani airstrikes in November that Kabul claimed killed civilians.
“Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity,” said Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister, accusing Afghan forces of “unprovoked firing”.
In response, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces had launched the aggression in the Spin Boldak district, describing it as a violation of their sovereignty.
Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban government of harbouring fighters from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who have launched a wave of attacks inside Pakistan over the past year, including a devastating suicide bombing in Islamabad in November.
The porous 1,600-mile border has become a flashpoint, with Pakistan occasionally resorting to cross-border airstrikes to target suspected militant hideouts, drawing fierce rebukes from Kabul.
While both sides have stated a desire to avoid full-scale conflict, the collapse of this latest ceasefire suggests that diplomatic channels are struggling to contain the violence. Analysts warn that further escalation could destabilise the region, complicating international efforts to deliver aid to Afghanistan.
Also Read / Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan Kill Civilians as Tensions Rise and Regional Risks Increase.
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