Islamabad, 6 December (H.S.):

Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged intense gunfire along their volatile border late Friday, escalating tensions just two days after the latest peace talks in Saudi Arabia ended without progress, though both sides pledged to uphold a fragile ceasefire. No casualties were immediately reported from the clash in key hotspots like Spin Boldak in Afghanistan's Kandahar province and the Chaman crossing.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistani forces of initiating attacks in Spin Boldak, while Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesman for Pakistan's Prime Minister, countered that Afghan troops fired unprovoked at Chaman, affirming Pakistan's resolve to protect its territorial integrity. The skirmish follows a pattern of deadly confrontations, including October's clashes that killed dozens—the worst since the Taliban's 2021 takeover.

At the core of the dispute lies Islamabad's claim that Afghan-based militants, including those behind recent suicide bombings by Afghan nationals, launch cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul firmly denies, insisting it bears no responsibility for Pakistan's internal security. Recent mediations hosted by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia have sustained a tenuous Doha-brokered truce but failed to forge lasting agreements.

Pakistan's military, intelligence, and foreign office delegates joined Taliban representatives in the Saudi talks, yet core accusations persist amid closed border crossings for trade. Analysts warn that renewed hostilities could unravel the ceasefire, straining regional stability further.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar