Fierce clashes erupted overnight between Pakistani and Afghan forces in the Spin Boldak district along their volatile border, resulting in significant casualties and escalating regional tensions. According to Afghan officials, at least 15 civilians were killed and dozens injured, as confirmed by local spokesman Ali Mohammad Haqmal and Abdul Jan Barak of Spin Boldak district hospital. The Pakistan Army, however, claimed its forces repelled an attack, killing 15–20 Taliban fighters while destroying a tank and a training facility in the Kurram sector, with state media accusing Afghan troops of initiating “unprovoked fire.”

The conflict, which began Tuesday in a remote northwestern border region, saw both sides reporting heavy blows. Pakistan’s military, per GeoTV and anonymous security sources, damaged Afghan military posts and tanks, forcing attackers to flee and leaving several bodies behind. In retaliation, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government claimed it captured Pakistani outposts, weapons, and tanks, releasing footage of its forces parading a seized tank through the streets. The violence marks the second major clash this week, following a brief pause on Sunday mediated by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with all border crossings remaining closed.

Tensions have been simmering since last week when Kabul accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes on its capital and an eastern market, allegations Pakistan denied. Over the weekend, Afghanistan reported killing 58 Pakistani soldiers in strikes on military posts, retaliating for alleged territorial violations, while Pakistan admitted to 23 soldier deaths but claimed over 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” were eliminated. The ongoing skirmishes highlight deep-seated disputes over the Durand Line, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a charge Kabul rejects, insisting its soil is not used for cross-border attacks.

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The latest hostilities underscore the fragility of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a 2,600-kilometer frontier long plagued by mistrust and violence. Pakistan’s military remains on high alert, with tanks deployed along key roads, as both sides brace for potential further escalation. International mediators face mounting pressure to broker a lasting ceasefire, as civilian casualties and infrastructure damage deepen the humanitarian toll.

With no immediate resolution in sight, the region teeters on the edge of broader conflict, threatening stability in an already volatile South Asian corridor.

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