At least four people were killed and four others, including a woman, wounded in overnight clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border troops at the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, local sources said on Saturday.
Residents said the fighting lasted several hours. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the incident, accusing Pakistani forces of firing first. “Unfortunately tonight the Pakistani side again initiated attacks toward Afghanistan in Spin Boldak, and Islamic Emirate forces were compelled to respond,” he said in a statement.
Pakistani media, citing officials, reported that the exchange of fire began from the Afghan side and said three people were injured on the Pakistani side of the border.
Residents in Kandahar said the clashes caused casualties and property damage, though details remained unclear.
The latest confrontation comes days after Pakistan briefly reopened the Torkham and Chaman crossings for UN aid amid reports of an undeclared ceasefire discussed in Riyadh. The two neighbours have held four rounds of talks in Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia over the past two months, but negotiations have produced no breakthrough.
Border tensions have intensified since Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India in October. Despite ongoing talks, Taliban and Pakistani forces have engaged in multiple armed clashes since then, including eight days of fighting in October that left at least 37 people dead.
