Afghanistan, Pakistan exchange fire as ceasefire talks resume in Turkey | News on border disputes

The truce talks aim to finalize the truce reached in Qatar last month after deadly clashes.

Pakistan and Afghanistan traded blame for the brief cross-border fighting as delegations from both sides met in Turkey for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire after last month's deadly clashes.

Thursday's talks in Istanbul are meant to be finalized ceasefire approved on October 19 in Qatar it capped a week of deadly clashes between the South Asian neighbors that killed dozens of people, including soldiers and civilians, and injured hundreds more.

Security issues are at the heart of their dispute, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring groups such as the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which are accused of carrying out attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban government in Afghanistan denies the allegations.

“While the third round of talks with the Pakistani side began in Istanbul, unfortunately this afternoon Pakistani forces opened fire again on Spin Boldak, causing concern among the local population,” Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday.

The town of Spin Boldak is located in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar.

“The Islamic Emirate's forces, out of respect for the negotiating team and to prevent civilian casualties, have so far shown no reaction,” Mujahid told X.

Pakistan rejected the accusation, placing the blame on Afghanistan.

“We categorically reject the allegations spread by the Afghan side regarding today's incident on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman,” Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting posted on X. “The firing was initiated by the Afghan side to which our security forces immediately responded in a measured and responsible manner.”

Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesman for Taliban officials, told AFP that “we do not know the cause” of the Pakistani fire.

Ali Mohammed Hakmal, head of Kandahar's information department, said the dismissal was brief. Residents told AFP it lasted 10-15 minutes.

Pakistan confirmed that calm had been restored.

Negotiations in Istanbul reached a dead end last week as the details of the ceasefire came to be finalised, with each side accusing the other of being unwilling to cooperate.

Both sides also warned of a resumption of hostilities in case of failure.

Despite the ceasefire, all important border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain closed to trade and civilian movement. The checkpoints were closed on October 12, although Pakistan partially reopened two of them to allow Afghan refugees to return home.

Host Turkiye said at the end of last week's talks that the countries agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to maintain peace and punish violators.

Fifty civilians were killed and 447 others wounded on the Afghan side of the border during clashes that began on October 9, according to the United Nations. At least five people were killed in explosions in Kabul The Taliban government blamed Pakistan.

Pakistan's army said 23 of its soldiers were killed and another 29 wounded, with no mention of civilian casualties.