Fresh fighting has broken out between Pakistani forces and Afghanistan’s Taliban near the border city of Spin Boldak, shattering a fragile ceasefire agreed less than two months ago. Residents fled overnight as heavy gunfire and artillery exchanges rang out across the frontier.
Health workers in Kandahar confirmed that four bodies were brought to a nearby hospital, while four other Afghans and at least three Pakistanis were wounded. Both governments acknowledged the four-hour clash but traded blame, each accusing the other of initiating the violence. Islamabad said the Taliban launched “unprovoked firing”, prompting an “immediate and intense response”, while Taliban officials insisted Pakistan “once again initiated attacks”.
Footage from Spin Boldak showed crowds fleeing on foot and by vehicle as shells hit civilian areas. Afghan officials accused Pakistani forces of using “light and heavy artillery” that struck homes. The renewed violence comes despite ongoing negotiations for a wider peace settlement mediated by Qatar and Turkey, and after delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia last week without reaching an agreement.
