A Pakistani security personnel stands guard on the border with Afghanistan in Chaman, after nighttime clashes between forces of the two countries. Photo: AFP
QUETA:
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged intense fire along their border in Chaman late on Friday, killing at least five people amid heightened tensions following the collapse of last weekend’s peace talks, officials from both countries said.
Following the exchange of gunfire, the border crossing remained closed on Saturday, leaving large numbers of travelers, traders and families stranded in cold weather.
A spokesman for Pakistan’s prime minister said Afghan forces carried out “unprovoked firing” along the Chaman border. “Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.
However, Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. His deputy Hamdullah Fitra told Reuters that Pakistan’s strikes killed five people, including a Taliban member.
The exchange came nearly a week after a new round of peace talks between the neighbors ended without progress, although both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.
The talks in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings organized by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to cool tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
At the center of the dispute, Islamabad says Afghanistan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan citizens.
Kabul denied the allegation and said it could not be held responsible for security inside Pakistan. Dozens of people were killed in the October clashes, the worst border violence since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Meanwhile, officials said Pakistan has beefed up its security presence at key points along the Chaman crossing. Afghan authorities have also increased deployments to Spin Boldak, raising fears among local communities that the situation could drag on.
Many Afghan citizens hoping to return home have been waiting at the Friendship Gate for long hours, with some stranded for several days due to the abrupt closure. Travelers have expressed growing concern as cold weather sets in and basic facilities remain scarce.
A passenger at the terminal said families with children were particularly distressed as they waited for the border to reopen.
Sources said a comprehensive report on the border situation will be submitted to the chairman of the Border Management and Master Plan Committee for evaluation. Officials are reviewing whether additional measures are required to stabilize the region.
The nighttime exchange of fire, which lasted several hours, injured at least three civilians on the Pakistani side, including a woman. Chaman medical staff are providing treatment and closely monitoring the evolution of the situation.
Despite the rise in tension and the deployment of additional troops, neither the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) nor the Ministry of External Affairs had issued any formal statement at the time of filing this report.
Border residents have appealed to the governments of neighboring countries to reduce tensions and restore normality as soon as possible. (WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM REUTERS)
