Saturday, March 29, 2025
Updated: December 6, 2025 | 06:17
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated sharply after a major cross-border clash broke out, marked by intense gunfire, mortar shelling, and grenade attacks from both sides. The violence has triggered panic among civilians living near the border, forcing many families to abandon their homes and flee to safer areas overnight.
According to reports, fresh fighting erupted in the Spin Boldak region of Kandahar province, where Afghan and Pakistani forces engaged in direct confrontation. Both sides allegedly fired across the border, using rockets, mortars, grenades, and heavy weapons, creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos in nearby villages.
The clash comes just two days after peace talks between the two sides collapsed, raising concerns that diplomatic efforts have failed to ease rising hostilities.
Eyewitnesses said projectiles landed close to residential areas, with some shells reportedly hitting homes. Frightened by the sudden escalation, residents hurriedly packed their belongings and fled their villages with families and children during the night.
Local sources described scenes of confusion, with roads filled with fleeing villagers seeking safety away from the conflict zone.
Afghan Border Police spokesperson Abdullah Farooqi confirmed the clashes and claimed that Pakistan initiated the firing. He said Pakistani forces launched the attack, but Afghan troops responded after the ceasefire was violated.
Pakistan, however, has rejected these allegations, insisting that Afghan forces fired first, prompting a retaliatory response. The exchange quickly escalated into heavy shelling on both sides.
The latest violence has once again highlighted the long-standing dispute over the Durand Line, the contentious border separating Afghanistan and Pakistan. A similar confrontation was reported in October near the same region.
Spin Boldak is a key border town and an important hub for trade and cross-border travel, but it lies along the Durand Line—a boundary that has remained controversial for decades.
Afghanistan does not officially recognise the Durand Line as an international border, while Pakistan considers it its legally defined boundary. As a result, Kabul views movement across the line as illegal infiltration, further fuelling friction between the two neighbours.
The renewed fighting has raised alarms about regional security, especially amid accusations that militant activity along the border continues to strain relations. With civilians once again paying the price of the conflict, calls are growing for urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent a wider crisis.
As of now, there are no confirmed casualty figures, but the situation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border remains highly volatile.
