Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan fighting again? Here’s what happened at Chaman border

Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border late on Friday, officials from both countries said, amid heightened tensions following failed peace talks last weekend. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The exchange came nearly a week after a new round of peace talks between the South Asian neighbours ended without a breakthrough, although both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire. The talks in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to cool tensions following deadly border clashes in October.

The exchange of fire started at around 10pm and continued till late night, Pakistani media reports said. Islamabad reportedly said that Afghan fighters fired mortar shells on the Badani area. Three people, including a woman, needed medical attention following the attack on the Pakistani side.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. A spokesman for Pakistan's prime minister accused Afghan forces of "unprovoked firing" along the Chaman border. "Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens," spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.

At the heart of the dispute, Islamabad says Afghan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul denies the charge, saying it cannot be held responsible for security inside Pakistan. Dozens were killed in Octobers clashes, the worst violence on the border since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021.