Afghan, Pakistani forces exchange heavy fire as tensions flare

"Officials from both sides said the skirmishes broke out late on Friday night, with the two countries accusing one another of opening fire first. list of 3 itemsend of list In a post on X, the spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Pakistani forces had launched attacks towards the Spin Boldak district in the Kandahar province, prompting Afghan forces to respond."

"A spokesman for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it was the Afghan forces who carried out unprovoked firing along the Chaman border. Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens, spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement. Unfortunately, this evening the Pakistani side once again launched attacks towards Afghanistan in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, prompting the Islamic Emirate forces to respond."

Afghanistan and Pakistan exchanged heavy cross-border fire late on Friday, with skirmishes lasting about two hours near the Spin Boldak and Chaman border areas. Both sides accused the other of initiating the attacks; Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces attacked Spin Boldak, while a Pakistani spokesman blamed Afghan forces for unprovoked firing along Chaman. Residents reported artillery and mortar strikes that struck civilian homes. Officials said the clashes ended after both sides agreed to stop, and there were no immediate reports of casualties. Bilateral relations have worsened since the Taliban return in 2021 amid Pakistani accusations that Kabul shelters armed groups including the TTP.

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