• Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces resulted in at least five deaths, including civilians and military personnel.
• Both sides accuse each other of initiating unprovoked attacks, despite recent ceasefire agreements.
• Residents reported heavy artillery shelling, which damaged civilian homes in the areas affected.

Heavy clashes erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border late Friday, resulting in the deaths of four civilians and one soldier. The fighting reportedly began around 10:30 PM local time and lasted for about two hours, with artillery fire damaging homes near the Spin Boldak district. Afghan officials cited that Pakistani forces initiated the attacks, whereas Pakistan’s leadership contended Afghan forces were at fault, igniting tensions that have persisted since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, according to aljazeera, bbc, and channelnewsasia.

Reports from local authorities indicated that at least five others were wounded in the clashes, with accusations flying between the two nations regarding the initiation of hostilities. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that "the Pakistani side started attacking Afghanistan", while Pakistan's Prime Minister's spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi asserted there was unprovoked fire from Afghan forces. The situation escalated rapidly, with residents fleeing the area due to heavy shelling, according to reuters, indiatimes, and scmp.

The recent exchange of fire occurs against a backdrop of strained relations that have seen peace talks attempt to stabilize the situation since October’s violence, which resulted in more than 70 fatalities. Despite reaching a temporary ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey, ongoing skirmishes illustrate the fragility of peace in the region. A week of failed negotiations in Saudi Arabia has further complicated prospects for a lasting agreement, leading to accusations from both sides regarding harboring militant groups and inciting violence, according to aljazeera and reuters.