New conflict breaks out between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Border clashes have broken out again between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces, with each side accusing the other of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement.

Residents fled overnight from the Afghan city of Spinboldak, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,600-kilometer) border between the two countries.

A medical worker in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto that four bodies had been taken to a local hospital. Four other people were injured. Three people were reportedly injured in Pakistan.

Sporadic fighting has erupted between the two countries in recent months, and Afghanistan’s Taliban government has accused Pakistan of launching airstrikes inside the country.

Both sides confirmed they exchanged gunfire at night, but each blamed the other for instigating the four-hour battle.

Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesman for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of “unprovoked firing.”

“Our armed forces responded immediately, appropriately and strongly. Pakistan remains fully vigilant and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens,” the statement continued.

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman said Pakistan had “launched another attack” and said it was “forced to respond.”

Residents on the Afghan side of the border said the fighting started around 22:30 (18:00 GMT) on Friday.

Video from the area showed large numbers of Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles.

Ali Mohammad Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s press department, said Pakistani forces used “light and heavy artillery” in the attack and civilian houses were hit with mortars.

The latest conflict occurred less than two months later Both sides agree to ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Türkiye.

The end of more than a week of fighting that left dozens dead was the worst conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, but tensions remain high.

The government in Islamabad has long accused Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban of providing sanctuary to armed groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan.

The Taliban government denies the accusation and accuses Pakistan of blaming other countries for “its own security failures”.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the Pakistani Taliban launched at least 600 attacks against Pakistani forces in the past year.

Last week, delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of talks on a broader peace settlement, but no agreement was reached.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told BBC News that both sides agreed to continue the ceasefire.