Dozens killed, scores injured in new Af-Pak border clashes
New Delhi, Oct 15: Intense overnight clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces have killed and injured dozens along the border between Pakistan’s Chaman district and Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak, marking one of the deadliest flare-ups in recent months, according to Al Jazeera and multiple news agencies.
Both sides traded accusations over who triggered the hostilities, which erupted late Tuesday and continued for several hours. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces initiated the fighting by firing “light and heavy weapons” into Afghan territory, killing 12 to 15 civilians and injuring more than 100 others, including 80 women and children, AFP quoted a district hospital official reports Al Jazeera.
Mujahid asserted that Taliban forces “returned fire,” destroying Pakistani military positions and capturing weapons and tanks. However, Pakistani officials rejected the Afghan version, blaming the Taliban for attacking a Pakistani military post and the surrounding areas. Reuters, citing unnamed security sources, reported that six Pakistani soldiers were killed and four civilians wounded during the five-hour exchange.
In a statement, Pakistan’s army said its troops had “effectively repulsed” the assault, killing 15 to 20 Taliban fighters and inflicting additional casualties. It also said its forces had faced separate attacks from the Taliban earlier in the night in Kurram district, further north.
Eyewitnesses in Chaman as reported by the media, described chaotic scenes as shelling struck residential areas. “People are in a very difficult situation. Shells are falling in people’s homes,” Najibullah Khan, a resident, told reporters as reported by Al Jazeera. The border hostilities follow a series of deadly exchanges over the past week. On Saturday, both sides traded heavy fire across multiple frontier points, leaving dozens dead. Although the clashes briefly halted after mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, most border crossings remain closed. According to Afghan officials, last weekend’s strikes were in retaliation for what Kabul alleged were Pakistani violations of Afghan airspace, claiming it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in return.
The renewed fighting highlights high tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, driven by Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan harbours Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for cross-border attacks. The Taliban government denies the charges, insisting it does not allow Afghan soil to be used against any country.
