Fresh deadly border clashes have erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces, with both sides accusing each other of violating a fragile ceasefire.
Residents fled the Afghan border city of Spin Boldak overnight as gunfire intensified along the 1,600-mile (2,574 km) frontier shared by the two countries.
A medical official in Kandahar told BBC Pashto that a local hospital receives the bodies of four people, while Pakistan reports three injuries on its side of the border.
The renewed fighting marks another episode in months of sporadic confrontations, during which Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities repeatedly accuse Pakistan of launching airstrikes inside Afghan territory.
Both sides confirm they exchanged fire for four hours overnight, but each insists the other sparked the violence.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, says the Taliban opened fire first, calling it “unprovoked firing.”
“An immediate, befitting and intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to protecting its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” he said.
The Taliban reject Pakistan’s accusation, insisting Islamabad “once again initiates attacks,” forcing Afghan forces to retaliate.
Footage from the region shows large numbers of Afghans escaping on foot and by vehicle, with residents in surrounding towns also fleeing for fear the clashes may escalate.
The confrontation comes less than two months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire that halted the worst fighting between Pakistan and the Taliban since the group seized power in 2021. Despite that agreement, tensions remain high.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban of sheltering armed groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil. The Taliban deny this, saying Pakistan is attempting to shift blame for its “own security failures.”
Last week, delegations from both countries met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of talks aimed at securing broader peace. They failed to reach a final deal, but sources familiar with the negotiations said that both sides agreed to continue honouring the ceasefire even as new clashes erupt.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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