Calm returned to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman on Saturday, following heavy overnight clashes between the two sides that left multiple civilians injured on both sides. The exchange of fire marks a renewed heightening of tensions amid ongoing disputes over cross-border terrorism and the failure of recent mediation efforts.
پاکستان اور افغانستان کے درمیان جھڑپوں کے بعد چمن کے ہسپتالوں میں ایمرجنسی نافذ
مزید تفصیل بی بی سی اردو کے لائیو پیج پر: https://t.co/JxeyX4xLR3 pic.twitter.com/svjDOuiolj— BBC News اردو (@BBCUrdu) December 6, 2025
Conflicting Accounts of Firing
The intense exchange of fire, which started around 10:00 PM and continued until late last night, resulted in casualties on both sides.
- Pakistani Side: At least three civilians were injured in the clashes and were shifted to the district hospital in Chaman. Officials in Quetta stated that Afghan forces initiated the firing by launching mortar shells on the Badani area, prompting Pakistani security forces to retaliate. Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, confirmed Pakistan’s response in a post on X, stating that the Afghan Taliban regime had resorted to “unprovoked firing,” to which an “immediate, befitting & intense response” was given.
- Afghan Side: Afghan government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported five injuries on the Afghan side. However, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that it was Pakistan that launched the attack on Spin Boldak, alleging their forces were merely responding.
Pakistan’s official stance, as expressed by the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to ensuring its “territorial integrity & the safety [of] our citizens.”
Context of Stalled Negotiations
The latest clash comes amid a complete breakdown in negotiations aimed at securing lasting peace and stability along the shared border.
- Failed Talks: Three rounds of talks, hosted by mediators Turkiye and Qatar in Istanbul, failed to yield any workable solutions. Following the third round on November 7, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that talks addressing cross-border terrorism were effectively “over” and had “entered an indefinite phase.”
- TTP Contention: Pakistan’s bilateral relationship with Afghanistan has been severely strained by the continued presence and activities of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which remains the main point of contention. Islamabad continues to demand that the Kabul rulers take decisive action to stop cross-border terrorism.
- Trade Suspension: Following the failure of the talks, the Afghan Taliban suspended trade ties with Pakistan, which had already closed its border for trade soon after the initial clashes erupted on October 11.
The recent flare-up at Chaman underscores the fragility of the temporary ceasefires established since October 11 and highlights the deep, unresolved differences between the two neighboring governments.
