4 Killed in Afghan-Pakistan Border Clash

Four people were killed and several others wounded after intense exchanges of gunfire erupted along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border on Friday night, according to local authorities in Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak district.

Officials from both countries confirmed that Afghan and Pakistani forces traded heavy fire late Friday amid mounting tensions following the failure of peace talks earlier in the week.

Each side blamed the other for what they described as an unprovoked attack. Afghanistan’s Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched strikes in Spin Boldak in Kandahar province. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s prime minister accused Afghan forces of “unjustified firing” across the Chaman border corridor, stressing that Pakistan remained on high alert and committed to safeguarding its territory and citizens.

The clash came just two days after another round of peace discussions ended without progress, despite both sides agreeing to maintain a fragile ceasefire. The talks — held in Saudi Arabia after earlier rounds in Qatar and Turkey — were aimed at easing tensions following deadly border clashes in October.

Islamabad maintains that militants based inside Afghanistan have carried out recent attacks on Pakistani soil, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul rejects the allegations, insisting Afghanistan bears no responsibility for Pakistan’s internal security.

The October clashes were among the deadliest along the frontier since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, leaving dozens dead and deepening strains between the two neighbours.