Five Killed in Cross-Border Fire Between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Afghan authorities have reported five fatalities following a heavy exchange of fire with Pakistani forces along the shared border, amid growing tensions between the two countries. The clashes come after peace talks in Saudi Arabia failed to establish a lasting agreement, highlighting the fragile security situation in the region.

The Spin Boldak district governor in Kandahar province confirmed that four civilians were killed during the fighting, while Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitra reported a total of five deaths, including a Taliban fighter, attributing the incident to shelling by Pakistani forces.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

Officials from both Afghanistan and Pakistan claimed the other side fired first. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on social media platform X that Pakistani forces had initiated attacks towards Spin Boldak, prompting a response from Afghan forces.

Conversely, a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mosharraf Zaidi, accused Afghan forces of “unprovoked firing” along the Chaman border, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its territorial integrity and citizens.

Local residents reported that the firefight began around 10:30 p.m. local time and lasted approximately two hours, involving both light and heavy artillery, with some mortar rounds striking civilian homes. Afghan officials stated that the clashes ended after both sides agreed to halt hostilities.

Strained Relations Between Former Allies

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan has long accused Kabul of providing sanctuary to armed groups targeting its territory, including the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army, and a local ISIL/ISIS affiliate (ISKP).

The TTP, often described as the ideological twin of the Afghan Taliban, has waged a persistent campaign against Pakistan since 2007. Most recently, a roadside bombing claimed by the TTP near the Afghan border killed three Pakistani police officers. Pakistan also accuses Afghanistan of sheltering ISKP fighters, despite their hostility toward the Afghan Taliban.

Taliban Denies Responsibility

The Afghan Taliban have denied the allegations, stating they cannot be held responsible for security operations within Pakistan. Kabul has accused Islamabad of spreading misinformation and deliberately provoking border tensions.

Previous border conflicts have been deadly. In October 2025, a week of intense clashes killed approximately 70 people on both sides, leaving hundreds more wounded. Afghan and Pakistani officials later signed a ceasefire in Doha, Qatar, on October 19, but subsequent negotiations in Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia have failed to produce a long-term truce.

Despite ongoing ceasefire agreements, Kabul has accused Pakistan of carrying out repeated air strikes in eastern Afghanistan. One November attack in Khost province reportedly killed nine children and a woman, though Pakistan denied involvement.

Ongoing Security Concerns

The latest clashes underscore the fragile and volatile nature of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, with civilian populations along the border remaining at risk. Analysts warn that without sustained diplomatic engagement and enforcement of ceasefire agreements, cross-border violence is likely to continue, exacerbating regional instability.