Pakistani security personnel stand guard at the Afghan border in Chaman, following nighttime clashes between forces of the two countries. Photo: AFP
QUETTA:
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border in Chaman on Friday evening, killing at least five people amid heightened tensions following the breakdown of peace talks last weekend, officials from the two countries said.
After the exchange of fire, the border crossing remained closed on Saturday, leaving large numbers of travelers, traders and families stranded in the cold weather.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani prime minister said Afghan forces had carried out “unprovoked firing” along the Chaman border. “Pakistan remains fully vigilant and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens,” spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, however, claimed that Pakistani forces had launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. His deputy Hamdullah Fitra told Reuters that Pakistan’s bombings had 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 result, although both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.
The negotiations in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
At the heart of the conflict, Islamabad says Afghanistan-based militants have recently carried out attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals.
Kabul has denied the accusations, saying it cannot be held responsible for security inside Pakistan. Dozens of people were killed in October clashes, the worst violence on the border since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Meanwhile, officials said Pakistan has strengthened its security presence at key points of 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 nationals 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 over the onset of cold weather and the scarcity of basic facilities.
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 situation at the border will be submitted to the Chairman of the Border Management and Master Plan Committee for evaluation. Officials are reviewing whether additional measures are needed to stabilize the region.
The nighttime exchange of fire, which lasted several hours, left at least three civilians on the Pakistani side injured, including a woman. Chaman’s medical staff provide care and closely monitor the situation.
Despite the heightened tension and deployment of additional troops, neither the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued an official statement at the time of filing this report.
Border residents have called on governments of neighboring countries to reduce tensions and restore normalcy as soon as possible. (COURTESY OF REUTERS)
