Deadly attacks erupt on Pakistan-Afghanistan border

2025-12-06 09:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Deadly new border attacks have erupted between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces, with both sides accusing each other of violating a fragile ceasefire.

Residents fled the Afghan town of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 2,574km border that separates the two countries.

A medical source in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto that a local hospital had received the bodies of four people. Three injuries were reported in Pakistan.

Sporadic attacks have repeatedly erupted between the two in recent months, while Afghanistan's Taliban government has also accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes inside the country.

Both sides have confirmed they exchanged fire overnight, but each blamed the other for starting the four-hour fighting.

Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of unprovoked shootings.

A statement continued: "An immediate, appropriate and intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully vigilant and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the security of our citizens."

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman said Pakistan had launched attacks again and said it was forced to respond.

Footage from the area showed large numbers of Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles, while people in neighboring towns also fled for fear of new fighting spreading.

The overnight clashes occurred less than two months after both sides agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey.

This ended the heaviest fighting between Pakistan and the Taliban since the group returned to power in 2021, although tensions have remained high.

The government in Islamabad has long accused the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan of harboring armed groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan denies the allegations and has accused Pakistan of blaming others for its own "security failures."

Last week delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of negotiations on a broader peace settlement, but failed to reach an agreement.

Sources familiar with the talks told BBC News that both sides had agreed to continue with the ceasefire./ CNA