Photo: EPA
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Dec. 5, officials from both sides said, amid rising tensions following yet another failed round of peace talks earlier this week. There were no immediate reports of casualties, according to Reuters.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces attacked the Spin Boldak area in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s prime minister accused Afghan forces of “unprovoked firing” along the border near Chaman.
“Pakistan stands ready to take any necessary action and is committed to protecting its territory and citizens,” government spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said.
The exchange of fire came two days after the latest round of peace talks ended without a breakthrough. Both sides had agreed to maintain a fragile ceasefire.
Last week’s negotiations in Saudi Arabia were the most recent in a series of meetings brokered by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia aimed at easing tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
The core of the dispute, Reuters notes, stems from Islamabad’s claim that militants based in Afghanistan carried out recent attacks inside Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul denies the allegations, saying it cannot be held responsible for security inside Pakistan.
Border clashes flared again on Oct. 11, when the Taliban launched coordinated assaults on Pakistani border posts across several provinces along the Durand Line. Pakistan subsequently shut several border crossings.
New fighting broke out on Oct. 15, killing more than a dozen civilians and soldiers. Four days later, on Oct. 19, both countries agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha.
