Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged gunfire along their border, escalating already tense relations between the two countries following recent airstrikes by Pakistan.
Pakistani and Afghan forces engaged in cross-border gunfire today, each accusing the other of initiating the conflict. This incident follows recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan that have already strained relations. The land border spans approximately 2,600 kilometers, and this increase in hostilities threatens a fragile ceasefire established after violent clashes in October of last year.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani Prime Minister, Musharraf Zaidy, claimed that Afghan forces began the 'unprovoked fire' in the Torkham and Tera sectors of the border region. He asserted that Pakistani security forces responded promptly and effectively, urging that any further provocations would be met with 'immediate and severe' counteractions. This statement emphasizes Pakistan's readiness to defend its territory and highlights rising tensions.
Conversely, Afghan officials provided a different account, asserting that Pakistani forces initiated the shooting, prompting a defensive response from Afghan soldiers. Zabihullah Noorani, the head of media and culture for Nangarhar province, reported that the incident occurred in the Shahkot area of the Nazyan district. This ongoing exchange of accusations reflects the complex, simmering hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as both nations navigate their delicate border relations amid broader regional instability.
