Calm returns after renewed Pak-Afghan border clashes

ISTANBUL

Calm has returned to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday after the two sides engaged in clashes late last night, according to officials and local media.

The clashes were reported at the Spinboldak border area in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, which borders the Balochistan province of Pakistan, claimed Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

“Unfortunately, this evening the Pakistani side once again launched attacks towards Afghanistan,” Mujahid claimed in a brief statement on US social media company X.

However, Pakistani prime minister’s spokesman for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, claimed that Kabul “resorted to unprovoked firing along the Chaman border.”

At least five people on the Afghan side were killed in the clashes, according to Kabul-based Tolo News.

According to Pakistani daily Dawn, “calm returned” to the border area.

It reported that at least three civilians were injured on the Pakistani side.

The two neighbors last month saw border tensions escalate, which later ended in a ceasefire.