KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Clashes have erupted between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards in the border areas of Dand Patan and Zazi Aryob districts in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktia province, local sources said on Saturday.
The fighting began at around 4 p.m. local time on October 17 and was still ongoing when the sources spoke to KabulNow. Both sides were using light and heavy weapons, according to the sources.
A source in Dand Patan district told KabulNow that some rockets fired from the Pakistani side had struck residential areas, leaving local families facing difficult conditions. The extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties had not been established at the time of reporting.
Local Taliban officials had not publicly commented on the clashes.
The latest fighting comes amid repeated armed confrontations between Taliban forces and Pakistani security personnel along the two countries’ shared border over the past year. Pakistan has also carried out airstrikes against targets in several Afghan provinces amid escalating tensions with the Taliban authorities.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban authorities have deteriorated largely over Pakistan’s allegations that armed groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban authorities have denied allowing Afghan territory to be used against other countries and have rejected Islamabad’s accusations.
The dispute has triggered recurring border clashes, cross-border attacks and restrictions at major crossing points, disrupting trade, travel and the livelihoods of communities living along the frontier. Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan have also drawn strong condemnation from the Taliban authorities, who have described them as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
According to figures cited by the United Nations, more than 500 people were killed in Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan over the past year. The ongoing violence has raised concerns about civilian safety, particularly in border communities exposed to shelling and fighting, and the risk of further escalation between the neighbouring countries.
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan face serious security challenges in their border regions, but a lasting resolution remains elusive as disputes over militant groups, border security and sovereignty continue to strain relations.
Another important factor is the disputed Durand Line, the roughly 2,600-kilometre frontier separating the two countries. Afghanistan has historically disputed the border’s status, and disagreements over border fencing, crossings and the movement of people have repeatedly contributed to tensions. Pakistan’s deportation campaign targeting Afghans, including refugees and undocumented migrants, has further strained relations and increased the humanitarian burden on Afghanistan.
The consequences extend beyond security. Border closures have disrupted bilateral trade, stranded transporters and separated families, while both countries’ border communities have faced displacement and economic hardship.
Regional mediation efforts, including talks facilitated by Qatar, Türkiye and China, have so far failed to produce a durable settlement. In early October, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the disputes could be resolved through diplomacy, but recent clashes and disagreements over counterterrorism commitments continue to undermine efforts to restore trust.
