An overnight exchange of fire at a key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing resulted in the deaths of four civilians, according to an Afghan official. This incident marks another escalation in tensions following deadly clashes last month.
The governor of the Spin Boldak district, Abdul Karim Jahad, reported that four additional individuals sustained injuries during the incident. Local medical facilities in the Pakistani border town of Chaman confirmed that three people were treated for minor injuries and later discharged.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have accused each other of initiating the conflict at the crossing between Chaman and Spin Boldak, despite having agreed to a ceasefire following the violence in October. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the Pakistani side began the attack, prompting a defensive response from Afghan forces.
Conversely, Pakistan officials claimed that the Afghan Taliban regime fired first. Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for the Pakistani prime minister, labeled the Afghan fire as “unprovoked” and stated that the country’s armed forces delivered a swift and appropriate retaliation.
Witnesses on the Afghan side reported that the skirmish erupted around 10:30 PM local time and continued for approximately two hours. Ali Mohammed Haqmal, the head of Kandahar’s information department, noted that Pakistani forces utilized both light and heavy artillery, with mortar fire damaging civilian residences in the area.
The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has intensified since the Taliban regained control in Kabul in 2021, with security concerns dominating the discussions. Islamabad accuses the Taliban regime of providing safe haven for militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which have allegedly executed attacks across the border. The Taliban, however, denies these claims.
October’s clashes resulted in over 70 fatalities and numerous injuries and were concluded by a ceasefire facilitated by Qatar and Turkey. Despite numerous rounds of negotiations in Doha and Istanbul, a longstanding resolution remains elusive, and the border continues to face closures.
In a recent development, Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying out airstrikes in a disputed border area last month, which reportedly killed ten people, including nine children—a claim that Pakistan rejected.
The foreign ministry in Islamabad warned that following significant attacks on its territory, the ceasefire agreement appears to be failing. Despite the ongoing tensions, Pakistan announced plans to partially reopen the border for humanitarian aid deliveries, with the Chaman crossing designated for use by United Nations agencies. While the timetable for these deliveries remains uncertain, officials maintained that the recent violent exchange would not disrupt the process.
