Recent clashes in several areas along the countries' vast shared border left dozens of people dead. The violence is the worst between the two neighbours since the Afghan Taliban seized power in 2021.

Kabul

Afghanistan and Pakistan have experienced a sharp escalation in border tensions, with both sides reporting casualties among soldiers and civilians in recent clashes. The violence has affected towns like Spin Boldak, where residents have been caught in the crossfire, resulting in deaths and injuries.

The conflict centers on Pakistan's allegations that the Afghan Taliban are sheltering and supporting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a group responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan. These claims are supported by UN findings but denied by the Afghan government. The situation has led to the closure of key border crossings, disrupting trade and causing significant losses for local businesses. While experts suggest that a larger conflict is unlikely, the ongoing instability has created uncertainty for people living in the region.

What's behind the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Decades ago, Afghan Mujahideen, like these Taliban fighters, relied on weapons and training from Pakistan. Since then, relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have soured. In recent days, they once again reached boiling point, with both sides claiming to have killed dozens of enemy soldiers. Here in the Afghan border town of Spin Boldak, civilians were caught in the crossfire. Bullets and mortar shells fell on our houses. One fell on my cousin's house. It martyred his son and wife, and three of his children were injured. Pakistan said its recent strikes on Afghanistan targeted the Pakistani branch of the Taliban. Since the Afghan Taliban took power in 2021, Islamabad has accused the group of sheltering the Pakistani Taliban. After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, the terrorist organisations have mobilised themselves in Afghanistan, even with the support of the Taliban, including TTP. This is the main issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the past four years, the so-called TTP has carried out thousands of attacks, targeting Pakistan's police, paramilitary forces and the army, leaving more than two and a half thousand people dead. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of ignoring the presence of TTP training camps in Afghanistan, and even of funding the group. Allegations that are backed by UN findings, but denied by the Afghan government. If the Taliban continues like that, the situation will be more complicated and it needs international communities' interaction or a kind of interference. Both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have sealed multiple border crossings that are vital for cross-border trade and the movement of people. The gate has been closed for about four or five days now. On both sides, produce and the vehicles carrying it were damaged. This is our own vehicle, a 60-ton truck loaded with sugar. Imagine if it remains parked here for five days. The entire stock will melt away. We implore both countries to please sit down together and find a solution. This is a huge loss for us. While some experts say the clashes are unlikely to spiral into a full-blown war, some civilians fear they spell a difficult time ahead.

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