More than a dozen Afghan civilians were killed and over 100 others injured as fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan flared again along their shared border early Wednesday, officials said.
Hostilities have persisted since Saturday, when dozens died across multiple border regions. Afghanistan claimed it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers overnight in retaliation for repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace, while Pakistan’s military reported 23 troops killed.
Wednesday’s clashes began before dawn, according to officials from both sides. Pakistan TV reported that Afghan authorities sought a ceasefire near Chaman, where the fighting was concentrated.
Pakistani security officials and state-run media said Afghan forces opened “unprovoked fire” that was repelled in Kurram district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani forces reportedly killed 30 Afghan Taliban fighters near Khost province, destroyed a major Pakistani Taliban training facility, and inflicted heavy losses.
Zabihullah Mujahid, chief Taliban spokesperson in Kabul, accused Pakistan of using light and heavy weapons in assaults on Spin Boldak district in southern Kandahar province. Afghan forces, he said, returned fire, killing several Pakistani soldiers, capturing military posts, and seizing weapons, including tanks.
Pakistan’s military rejected the Afghan claims, saying the attacks along the Chaman border were orchestrated by Afghan Taliban fighters without regard for civilians. “The attack was repulsed, and 15 to 20 Taliban fighters were killed, with many others wounded,” the army said.
On Tuesday, Pakistan said Afghan Taliban fighters coordinated with the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) in an attempted attack on border posts in Kurram, which was successfully repelled.
Witnesses in Chaman reported mortars falling near villages, forcing some families to evacuate. “People living near the border are leaving the area. The fighting must end to prevent further shelling,” said local resident Najibullah Khan.
The clashes, which temporarily subsided Sunday following Saudi and Qatari mediation, have kept most border crossings closed. Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring TTP fighters responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan, while the Afghan Taliban deny the allegations, insisting Afghan territory is not used against other countries.
