Afghan, Pakistani forces exchange heavy fire, shattering fragile ceasefire

Afghan and Pakistani forces have exchanged heavy gunfire along their shared border, heightening tensions between the two neighbors after recently stalled peace talks in Saudi Arabia failed to produce any progress.

Officials from both sides confirmed the skirmishes, which happened late Friday night, each accusing the other of firing the first shots.

In a post on X, Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces had “launched attacks towards” the Spin Boldak district in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, prompting Afghan forces to return fire.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, in a statement, that Afghan forces initiated the confrontation with “unprovoked firing” near the Chaman border.

“Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi added.

Residents on the Afghan side reported that the exchange of fire began at around 10:30 pm local time (18:00 GMT) and continued for roughly two hours.

Ali Mohammad Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s information department, told AFP that Pakistani forces used both light and heavy artillery, with mortar rounds striking civilian homes. “The clashes have ended, both sides agreed to stop,” he added.

Afghan and Pakistani officials inked a temporary ceasefire deal in Doha on October 19, but the deal has since been followed by several rounds of fruitless negotiations hosted by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia in an effort to secure a more lasting peace.

The most recent talks, held in Saudi Arabia last weekend, ended without major progress, though both sides agreed to maintain the fragile truce.

Despite the ceasefire, Afghan authorities have accused Pakistan of conducting multiple air raids in eastern Afghanistan in recent weeks.

One such strike, allegedly carried out by the Pakistani military in late November on a home in Khost province, reportedly killed nine children and a woman. Pakistan has rejected the allegation, denying involvement in the attack.

Kabul claims Pakistani airstrike kills 10 people in eastern Afghanistan

Kabul says at least 10 people — among them children and a woman — were killed in eastern Afghanistan in an alleged airstrike by Pakistani forces.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated in recent months, amid escalating border tensions and mutual accusations of harboring militants.

Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying out drone strikes on October 9 that killed several people in the Afghan capital, vowing retaliation in response.

The following days saw heavy cross-border clashes that left dozens of soldiers, civilians, and militants dead on both sides before Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19.

Since then, two rounds of talks have been held in Turkey, the most recent on Thursday, but both ended without progress after Kabul reportedly refused to provide written assurances that the TTP and other militant groups would not use Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistan has long faced deadly attacks from militant outfits, including the resurgent TTP.

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