Heavy firing broke out between Pakistan and Afghanistan along their border late Friday night, officials from both sides said.
The flare-up erupted days after peace talks ended without success. No casualties were immediately confirmed.
key points
- Firing took place on both sides late on Friday night
- Each accuses the other of unprovoked attacks
- No immediate reports of casualties
- The exchange came after there was no progress in talks in Saudi Arabia
- October clashes were the deadliest since the Taliban took over
What do we know about border conflicts?
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces attacked positions in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on Friday night, prompting Afghan units to respond.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister of Pakistan said that Afghan forces opened “unprovoked firing” along the border in Chaman.
Residents on the Afghan side said the talks started at around 10:30 pm and continued for about two hours. Afghan officials said light and heavy artillery was used and mortar shells hit civilian homes.
What caused the renewed exchange?
The border firing came two days after talks between the two countries ended without any progress, although representatives of both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.
The meeting in Saudi Arabia follows an earlier round of meetings in Qatar and Türkiye aimed at reducing tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
Islamabad says Afghan-based militants, including factions of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), have carried out the recent attacks in Pakistan.
Kabul denies responsibility and says it cannot be held responsible for security incidents inside Pakistan.
Dozens of people were killed in deadly border clashes in October, the worst border violence since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Last month, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of carrying out an airstrike that killed 10 people, nine of whom were children. Pakistan has denied this allegation.
Edited by: Zack Crellin