kabul/islamabad - A new round of intense gunfire erupted Friday evening between the Afghan and pakistani militaries along thier shared border,resulting in at least five deaths and several injuries,officials reported Saturday. The clashes, which lasted approximately two hours beginning around 10:30 PM local time, underscore the fragile state of the recent ceasefire agreement between the two nations and raise concerns about escalating tensions in the region.
The latest exchange of fire follows failed peace talks earlier this week and comes after deadly clashes last October left over 70 people dead and hundreds wounded. While both sides have agreed to halt fighting, the underlying disputes remain unresolved, threatening further instability. The border region has long been a hotspot for conflict, fueled by accusations of cross-border terrorism and disputes over the demarcation of the Durand Line, a border drawn by British colonial authorities that Afghanistan does not officially recognize.
Residents on the Afghan side of the border told AFP that the firefight involved both light and heavy artillery. Ali Mohammed Haqmal,head of Kandahar’s information department in Afghanistan,stated that Pakistani forces attacked with artillery and mortar fire,impacting civilian homes. ”The clashes have ended, both parties have agreed to stop,” haqmal said.
Afghan authorities reported that four civilians and one soldier were killed in the fighting. Government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed in a video statement that five other civilians were injured. Pakistani officials, meanwhile, reported that three people in the border town of Chaman sustained minor injuries.
The current ceasefire was brokered by Qatar and Türkiye, offering a temporary respite after the October violence. However, the repeated breaches of the agreement highlight the difficulty of achieving a lasting peace without addressing the core issues driving the conflict. Further talks are planned,but the outcome remains uncertain.