Four civilians and a soldier were killed in overnight shelling and gunfire along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, Afghan officials said on Saturday, marking the latest outbreak of violence between the two countries despite a ceasefire agreement reached after deadly clashes in October.Five other civilians were wounded on the Afghan side, government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in a video statement. A hospital in the Pakistani town of Chaman reported three people with minor injuries following the exchange.Both sides accused each other of firing first near the busy Chaman–Spin Boldak crossing in southern Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that Pakistan “started attacking Afghanistan in Kandahar, Spin Boldak district, and the forces of the Islamic Emirate were forced to respond.” Pakistan prime minister’s spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi alleged that “the Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing” along the border.Local Afghan officials said “light and heavy artillery” was used, with mortar shells striking civilian homes. Residents told AFP that firing began around 10:30 pm and escalated rapidly. One resident described mortars hitting houses after tank fire, while another said his brother was killed when trying to reach a different room during the shelling. People on the Pakistan side said families took shelter indoors as mortar rounds landed near homes.Tensions have surged since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harbouring militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations. More than 70 people were killed in October clashes before Qatar and Turkey brokered a ceasefire. Talks in Doha and Istanbul since then have failed to produce a lasting settlement, and the border remains closed.Pakistan recently announced it would partially reopen the frontier at Chaman for United Nations aid deliveries. Pakistan’s spokesman Zaidi told AFP the latest clash would “have no impact on that decision,” adding that humanitarian access would continue separately.
