Escalation at the Afghan-Pakistani Border As Clashes Erupt

Sat Dec 06 2025 11:31:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Deadly skirmishes erupt near the Afghan-Pakistani border, raising concerns over a fragile ceasefire amid accusations from both sides of violations.

Recent border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan have resulted in casualties and accusations of ceasefire violations. The fighting near the city of Spin Boldak has forced residents to flee, highlighting escalating tensions that have persisted since the Taliban's return to power. Both nations blame each other for initiating the violence, while prior agreements aimed at establishing peace remain fragile.

Fresh deadly border clashes have broken out between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban forces, with both sides accusing each other of breaking a fragile ceasefire.

Residents fled the Afghan city of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,574 km) border the two countries share.

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

Sporadic fighting has repeatedly broken out between the two sides in recent months, while Afghanistan's Taliban government has accused Pakistan of conducting air strikes inside the country.

Both sides acknowledged exchanging fire overnight, each blaming the other for initiating the four hours of conflict. Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of unprovoked firing, stating that they had given an immediate, befitting & intense response. Pakistan emphasized its commitment to ensuring national security and territorial integrity.

Conversely, a Taliban spokesperson claimed it was Pakistan that once again initiated attacks, noting they felt compelled to retaliate.

Footage from the area showed many Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles, with people in neighbouring towns also leaving in fear of the conflict escalating further.

The overnight clashes occurred less than two months after both sides agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, which had quelled considerable fighting since the Taliban regained control in 2021.

Despite this latest violence, the government in Islamabad has continuously accused Afghanistan's ruling Taliban of harboring armed groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban denies these allegations and asserts that Pakistan is redirecting accountability for its own security weaknesses.

Efforts towards peace negotiations continued last week with talks held in Saudi Arabia, yet no definitive agreement was reached despite a mutual commitment to uphold the ceasefire.