Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan has once again risen after security forces on both sides exchanged gunfire late Friday night. The firing took place along the border, but thankfully, no casualties or major damage were reported. Both countries accused each other of breaking the two month old ceasefire agreement that had helped keep things relatively calm.
Talks held between the two sides in November to reduce tensions had failed, but the ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar in October had mostly held until now. The latest incident shows how fragile the situation remains, especially with frequent border closures and growing mistrust between the neighbouring nations.
Both nations blame each other for starting the firing
Interestingly, this gunfire happened just a day after Pakistan announced that it would allow the United Nations to send humanitarian aid into Afghanistan through the Chaman and Torkham border crossings. These routes have been shut for almost two months because of rising tensions.
After Friday’s incident, Pakistani police officer Mohammad Sadiq claimed that Afghan forces fired first near the Chaman border and Pakistani troops only responded. But Afghan officials told a different story. Taliban government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of starting the firing. Afghan Border Police spokesperson Abidullah Farooqi also said that Pakistani troops first threw a grenade towards the Spin Boldak area, forcing Afghan forces to retaliate. He added that Afghanistan is still committed to the ceasefire.
Clashes linked to earlier violence and failed peace talks
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Musharraf Zaidi, wrote on X that Afghan Taliban forces had opened fire ‘without any reason’ at the Chaman border earlier in the evening. He said Pakistan’s military is alert and fully committed to protecting the country and its citizens.
Tensions between the two countries have been rising since clashes broke out in October. Those confrontations killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants and left hundreds injured. The situation worsened after explosions in Kabul on October 9, for which the Taliban blamed Pakistan and vowed revenge. Although Qatar’s mediation brought some temporary calm, later peace talks held in Istanbul failed to produce any agreement.
