Renewed fighting erupted Wednesday along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing more than a dozen civilians and military personnel, destroying a fragile truce following deadly weekend clashes.
Afghan Taliban authorities said Pakistani forces launched attacks in Spin Boldak district in the early hours, killing over a dozen civilians and wounding around 100. In a statement carried on social media, a Taliban spokesman accused Pakistan of firing “light and heavy weapons” into Afghan territory.
On the Pakistani side, authorities reported that four civilians were wounded in Cross-border shelling in Chaman, opposite Spin Boldak.
In another front, fierce combat in Pakistan’s Orakzai district left six paramilitary soldiers dead and six wounded. Security officials said nine militants were also killed during an operation triggered by a recent militant attack that killed 11 soldiers.
Pakistan dismissed Kabul’s accusations of aggression, calling them “outrageous and blatant lies.” Its military instead blamed the Islamic State–Khorasan (ISIS-K) for attacks within Pakistan, pointing to ongoing militant activity across the border.
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In response to the violence, Pakistan shut several border crossings along the 2,600 km frontier, bringing trade to a standstill and stranding numerous goods-laden vehicles. Pakistan also placed its troops on high alert along the frontier, intensifying security measures.
The recent flare-ups came after Pakistan had urged the Taliban to crack down on militants it claims are staging attacks from Afghan soil. Islamabad frequently accuses Afghanistan of serving as a safe haven for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-K operatives.
Conversely, the Taliban accuse Pakistan of spreading disinformation, meddling in Afghan affairs, and harbouring extremist groups to undermine Afghan stability and sovereignty.
The weekend’s clashes were among the worst in the border region since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, despite frequent disputes in the frontier known as the Durand Line.
Diplomatic intervention may be crucial to prevent a full escalation, leading to a full blown war like in the case of Israel and Hamas. International bodies are not yet involved and are expected to get involved in the event of escalation. But right he ongoing closures of key crossings impose mounting economic pressure on both nations.
