An overnight exchange of gunfire and shelling along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border has left four civilians and one Afghan soldier dead, Afghan authorities confirmed on Saturday, December 6. The incident marks yet another escalation despite a ceasefire agreed upon after deadly clashes in October.
Hamdullah Fitrat, spokesperson for the Afghan government, said five additional civilians were injured. On the Pakistani side, a hospital in Chaman reported treating three people with minor wounds.
Both nations traded blame for initiating the hostilities at the heavily trafficked Chaman–Spin Boldak crossing in southern Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed on X that “the Pakistani side started attacking Afghanistan in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak district, forcing Islamic Emirate forces to respond.” Pakistan disputed this, with Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stating that “the Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing.”
Ali Mohammed Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s information department, accused Pakistani forces of firing “light and heavy artillery,” with mortar rounds striking residential areas. Residents described a terrifying two-hour barrage beginning around 10:30 p.m.
“First there was light shooting, then tanks and mortar shells started hitting our homes,” said Mahmood Khan, whose niece and two cousins were injured. Another resident, Shamsullah, said his brother was killed by a mortar blast while trying to move to another room. “We couldn’t take him out because more mortars were landing,” he said, adding that his brother died shortly after reaching a local hospital.
On the Pakistani side, labourer Muhammad Naeem recounted mortar shells crashing into houses and nearby plots as gunfire intensified. “Many people tried to flee, but the shooting was so heavy that we had no choice but to stay indoors,” he said.
Tensions along the frontier have remained high as relations between the two countries deteriorate following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan continues to accuse Kabul of sheltering militants, especially the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a charge the Taliban administration denies.
More than 70 people were killed in October’s fighting before Qatar and Turkey brokered a ceasefire. However, subsequent negotiations have failed to secure a lasting peace, and the border remains shut. Last month, Kabul accused Pakistan of airstrikes that killed 10 civilians, mostly children—a claim Islamabad rejected, later warning the ceasefire was “not holding” amid ongoing militant attacks.
Pakistan announced earlier this week that the frontier would be partially reopened to allow United Nations humanitarian aid through the Chaman crossing. Zaidi said those arrangements remain unchanged, stressing that “aid deliveries are separate” and will continue despite the latest violence.
