Fresh clashes broke out Thursday along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border even as peace negotiations continued in Turkey, leaving at least five Afghans dead, including four women, and six others injured.
According to Afghan officials, Pakistani troops opened fire in the Spin Boldak area during the ongoing discussions. They said Afghan forces refrained from retaliating out of respect for the peace talks.
Pakistan’s Information Ministry claimed the confrontation initiated from the Afghan side, insisting their troops only issued a “responsible response.” The violence has once again heightened tensions across the volatile border region, where both nations have long traded blame over security and sovereignty issues.
“While the third round of negotiations with the Pakistani side has begun in Istanbul, unfortunately, this afternoon Pakistani forces once again opened fire on Spin Boldak. Causing concern among the local population,” Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday.
The city of Spin Boldak is located in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar.
“The Islamic Emirate’s forces, out of respect for the negotiation team and to prevent civilian casualties, have so far shown no reaction,” Mujahid said on X.
Pakistan denied the accusation, pinning the blame on Afghanistan.
“We strongly reject claims circulated by the Afghan side regarding today’s incident at the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman.” Pakistan’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting posted on X. “Firing was initiated from the Afghan side, to which our security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner.”
Last month, fierce clashes near the same border in Kandahar province left numerous soldiers and civilians dead. Although a ceasefire agreement signed later in Qatar, it has yet to take effect on the ground.
Turkey, hosting the latest round of peace negotiations, said it is working to form a joint monitoring mechanism with both sides to hold violators accountable. Yet mutual distrust continues to stall progress.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban and conspiring against Islamabad in cooperation with India. Kabul counters that Pakistan is violating Afghan sovereignty and meddling in its internal affairs.
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The United Nations reported that at least 50 civilians killed and over 400 injured in border clashes in October. Pakistan confirmed the loss of 23 soldiers during that period.
Trade routes along the border remain shut, dealing heavy blows to both countries’ already fragile economies.
