In the early hours of this past Friday night, tensions at the Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing exploded into violence, leaving four civilians dead and four more wounded. The overnight exchange of fire highlights a fragile peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan that has been under strain all year.
Abdul Karim Jahad, governor of Spin Boldak district, told AFP that the clashes began around 10:30 pm when Pakistani forces allegedly opened fire with light and heavy artillery, even striking civilian homes. A local hospital in Chaman later discharged three people treated for minor injuries.
Both sides traded accusations on social media. Taliban authorities spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X: "The Pakistani side attacked Afghanistan unprovoked, and the forces of the Islamic Emirate were forced to respond." Pakistan’s prime minister’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, countered: "The Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the border, and our armed forces gave an immediate, intense response."
This flare-up comes after October’s deadly clashes, which killed more than 70 people and wounded hundreds. A ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Türkiye has held on paper, but repeated talks in Doha and Istanbul have failed to deliver a lasting deal, keeping the border closed to trade and travel. 🔒
Earlier this week, Pakistan announced plans to partially reopen the Chaman crossing for aid deliveries by United Nations agencies. While officials say humanitarian passages will remain separate from security talks, there's still no timeline for when convoys will start moving. 🤝
As long-standing disputes—Islamabad’s claims that Kabul harbors Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants, which the Taliban authorities deny—persist, this gateway between South Asian neighbors remains a high-stakes frontier. For young professionals, students, and adventurers tracking regional stability, Friday’s clash is a sobering reminder: peace here can shatter under the cover of night. 🌏✨
Reference(s):
Afghan official says 4 civilians killed in border clash with Pakistan
cgtn.com
