Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated into deadly border clashes, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction. Early Wednesday, renewed fighting erupted along the shared border near the village of Chaman, leaving more than a dozen Afghan civilians dead and over 100 wounded, according to officials from both nations. The violence follows days of cross-border shelling that began on Saturday, with both sides reporting military casualties. Afghanistan claims to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for alleged violations of its territory and airspace, while Pakistan’s military reported 23 troop fatalities. The clashes, concentrated in the Kurram district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak district, involved heavy artillery and mortar fire. Pakistan’s state media accused Afghan troops of initiating “unprovoked fire,” while Afghanistan’s Taliban government countered that Pakistan used light and heavy weapons in its assaults. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, claimed Afghan forces retaliated by killing several Pakistani soldiers, seizing military posts, and capturing weapons, including tanks. Pakistan’s military denied these claims, stating that the attacks were orchestrated by the Afghan Taliban and resulted in the deaths of 15 to 20 Taliban fighters. The fighting has displaced civilians near the border, with reports of families evacuating their homes to escape the violence. Despite temporary ceasefires brokered by Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the weekend, border crossings remain closed, and the situation remains volatile. The clashes highlight the deep-seated mistrust between the two nations, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban government of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistan. Kabul denies these allegations, insisting it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries. The ongoing conflict underscores the fragile security dynamics in the region and the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to prevent further escalation.
Afghanistan says more than a dozen civilians killed in renewed border fighting with Pakistan
