ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday dismissed allegations made by the Afghan Taliban administration over the latest border clash near the Chaman crossing, asserting that the confrontation was initiated from the Afghan side and that the ceasefire agreement remains intact.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, firing began from Afghan territory, prompting a “measured and professional” response from Pakistani security forces. “The situation was brought under control promptly due to the discipline and restraint shown by our personnel,” the ministry said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The statement reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to maintaining peace along the frontier, stressing that Pakistan “remains committed to resolving border matters through dialogue” and expects similar seriousness and cooperation from Kabul.
Competing Claims Over Border Skirmish
Earlier, Afghan officials claimed that Pakistani troops had opened fire on Spin Boldak — the Afghan town across from Chaman — for about 10 to 15 minutes. The Taliban side maintained they did not return fire.
However, Pakistani authorities countered that the Afghan forces had initiated the exchange, leading to a brief but tense situation at the border.
The renewed border flare-up comes at a delicate time, as delegations from both nations are engaged in ongoing peace talks in Turkiye following earlier rounds in Qatar’s Doha.
Tense Relations Amid Escalating Attacks
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated over the past months, particularly after deadly cross-border clashes in October that left 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred and over 200 Taliban fighters killed, according to official figures.
Pakistan has also carried out targeted strikes inside Afghanistan — including in Kabul — against militant hideouts allegedly linked to attacks within Pakistan.
A temporary ceasefire reached on October 17 helped ease hostilities, but security along the border remains fragile.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Taliban regime to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil to stage attacks inside Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where terror incidents have surged since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Despite multiple rounds of dialogue, Pakistan says the Afghan government has yet to take concrete steps to curb cross-border terrorism or rein in extremist factions operating from its territory.
