Five Killed in Afghan-Pakistan Border Fire Amid Peace Talks

Five people were killed and six others wounded in a brief cross-border exchange of fire between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday, a hospital official in Kandahar said, with both sides blaming each other for the incident.

The clash comes as the two countries hold ceasefire negotiations in Turkey, aimed at ending deadly border clashes. Security concerns remain central to the dispute, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which the Taliban government denies.

According to an official at Spin Boldak district hospital in southern Kandahar, four women and one man died in the attack, while six others sustained injuries. No casualties were immediately reported from the Pakistani side.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed Pakistani forces opened fire on Spin Boldak, adding that Afghan troops refrained from retaliation to protect civilians and respect the ongoing talks. Pakistan, however, denied the accusation, stating that Afghan forces initiated the firing and that Pakistani troops responded responsibly.

The brief exchange reportedly lasted 10–15 minutes. Both sides asserted that calm had been restored, though tensions remain high.

Negotiations in Istanbul have reached an impasse over ceasefire details, with each side accusing the other of failing to cooperate. Turkey, as host, has called for a monitoring and verification mechanism to enforce the truce and hold violators accountable.

The border has seen heavy clashes in recent weeks. According to the United Nations, 50 civilians were killed and 447 wounded in Afghanistan during one week of fighting in October, while Pakistan reported 23 soldiers killed and 29 wounded.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government continues to demand respect for its territorial sovereignty, while Pakistan accuses Kabul of acting with support from India amid closer Indo-Afghan ties.