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Calm Returns to Chaman After Overnight Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clashes
Calm has returned to the Chaman border after heavy overnight clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces left several injured. Both sides traded blame as talks between the two nations remain stalled.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-06
Calm Returns to Chaman After Overnight Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clashes

Calm returned to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman on Saturday following intense overnight clashes between security forces on both sides, which left at least three Pakistani civilians and five Afghans injured.

According to officials, Afghan forces fired mortar shells toward the Badani area, prompting Pakistani border security personnel to respond immediately. However, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistan initiated the attack on Spin Boldak and said their forces only retaliated.

Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, confirmed the clashes in a post on X early Saturday morning. “A short while ago, the Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the Chaman border. An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces,” he said, adding that Pakistan remained fully committed to safeguarding its territory and citizens.

A senior security official in Quetta, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the exchange of fire began around 10pm on Friday and continued late into the night.

Background of Rising Tensions

The latest skirmish comes amid stalled diplomatic negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, after three rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to produce any breakthrough. Relations between the neighbouring countries have grown increasingly tense as Pakistan continues to press Kabul to act against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad says operates from Afghan soil.

Border clashes first erupted on October 11, prompting a temporary ceasefire on October 15 following talks in Doha. The truce held as the two sides agreed to reconvene in Istanbul to seek a durable framework for peace and de-escalation.

A second round of discussions was held on October 25 in Turkey, but Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later announced on October 29 that the negotiations had failed to yield a workable solution. Mediation efforts by Türkiye and Qatar, however, managed to keep the process alive, leading to an Oct 31 joint statement outlining the need for further discussions.

But the third round of talks on November 7 ended abruptly. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that discussions surrounding cross-border terrorism were “over” and had entered an “indefinite phase” due to major, unresolved differences.

Impact on Border Trade

Following the collapse of the talks, the Afghan Taliban suspended trade ties with Pakistan. The Pakistani side had already shut down trade activities at the border shortly after the initial clashes erupted.

Tentative Calm, Uncertain Future

Though calm was restored in Chaman on Saturday, the uneasy truce reflects deeper fractures in Pakistan-Afghanistan ties. With dialogue now stalled, border security incidents risk becoming more frequent unless both sides find a way back to the negotiating table.
Tagged:

BorderClashes

Chaman

PakistanAfghanistan
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