Pakistan and Afghanistan exchange fire along the border with no casualties reported

ISLAMABAD Late Friday, Pakistani and Afghan forces engaged in gunfire along the contested border between the two nations. Authorities reported that there were no casualties or structural damage. Both countries blamed each other for breaching the fragile truce that has been in place for the last two months.

Efforts to ease tensions and uphold the ceasefire, which began in October under Qatars mediation, had stalled following failed negotiations between Islamabad and Kabul in November. Despite this, the truce has largely remained intact.

The skirmish occurred a day after Pakistan announced it would allow the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid into Afghanistan through the Chaman and Torkham border points, which have largely been closed for nearly two months amid rising tensions.

Mohammad Sadiq, a local police official from Pakistan, stated that the initial shots came from the Afghan side, prompting Pakistani troops to return fire near the Chaman crossing, an important transit route. In contrast, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Afghanistans Taliban government, accused Pakistan of starting the exchange, saying that Pakistani forces attacked the Spin Boldak district in Kandahar, prompting Afghan forces to respond.

Abidullah Farooqi, spokesperson for the Afghan border police, confirmed that a hand grenade was first thrown by Pakistani forces into Spin Boldak, leading to a retaliatory response. He reiterated Afghanistan's commitment to maintaining the ceasefire.

Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claimed that Afghan Taliban forces had conducted unprovoked firing at the Chaman border. He emphasized that Pakistani forces remain vigilant to protect the countrys borders and citizens.

Relations between the neighbors have been strained following deadly clashes in October that killed dozens and injured hundreds. The confrontations began after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. The Qatar-mediated ceasefire eased tensions, but subsequent talks in Istanbul did not yield an agreement.

Pakistan has attributed many militant attacks within its territory to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group allied with the Afghan Taliban. The presence of TTP fighters in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021 has added to ongoing border tensions.

Author: Grace Ellison