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KABUL: 

Overnight border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces killed and wounded dozens of civilians, officials said on Wednesday, in the latest flare-up of tensions between the neighbors since last week.

The deadly violence spanned Spin Boldak and Chaman, a key crossing between southeastern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Pakistan’s Balochistan, just days after Afghan forces struck several Pakistani military posts, where they claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani troops on Saturday.

Pakistan’s military gave lower figures, saying it lost 23 soldiers and killed more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” in return fire along the border.

Each side blamed the other for sparking Tuesday night’s deadly violence

The Afghan Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in an X post that Pakistani forces “launched attacks using light and heavy weapons,” killing 12 civilians and injuring more than 100.

Hours later, Ali Mohammad Haqmal, head of the Spin Boldak information department, told the media the death toll was 15.

While Pakistani officials blamed the Afghan Taliban for the violence, with the military saying that “15-20 Afghan Taliban have been killed and many injured” as it was “repulsing the attack,” local residents and eyewitnesses told Arab News that most of the casualties were civilians

“From midnight until late morning, we heard continuous gunfire, both heavy and light, and several loud explosions. People at Wesh Bazaar were terrified. Several shopkeepers and travelers were injured as gunfire came from across the border on the Pakistani side,” said Ahmad Wali, a shopkeeper at Wesh Bazaar in Spin Boldak.

Sadiqullah Afghan, director of Tabasum radio station in Kandahar, explained that the high number of civilian casualties was due to the proximity of several large villages near the border gate, as well as a busy central bazaar.

“Some of these villages are spread across both sides of the border, making them particularly vulnerable,” he said.

“Military aircraft are still flying overhead and have carried out strikes in several areas.”

Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces along the Durand Line — their 2,640 km border — have occurred for decades but intensified after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of US-led troops.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering fighters from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and allowing them to stage cross-border attacks — a charge Afghanistan denies, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.

The exchange of fire that started last week is the deadliest in years. It was triggered by an unclaimed explosion in Kabul and another in the southeastern province of Paktika, for which the Afghan government blamed the Pakistani military.

Most border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been closed for nearly a week.

“The impact of the recent clashes has been quick and serious as trade through major border crossings like Spin Boldak and Torkham has been badly disrupted, affecting businesses and daily life on both sides. These routes are vital for imports and exports, and the shutdown is damaging larger trade and economic relations between the two countries,” Dr Sohaib Raufi, executive director of the Center for Strategic and Regional Studies in Kabul, told Arab News.

“Pakistan has traditionally relied on a military approach to protect its interests, but the current government in Afghanistan is significantly different from previous administrations during the US occupation. This government is committed to a strong response, viewing the defense of territorial integrity as a top priority.”