Afghanistan-Pakistan border erupts again as civilian areas come under fire

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply escalated once again, with fresh cross-border shelling reported on Sunday in eastern Afghanistan, highlighting the intensifying conflict between the two neighbors.

According to Afghan officials, Pakistani forces used mortars and heavy weaponry to strike civilian areas on the outskirts of Asadabad in Kunar Province. Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat stated that the attack killed one person and injured at least 16 others , most of them women and children. Images shared by officials showed wounded civilians, drawing widespread concern. Pakistan has not yet responded to these specific allegations.

The latest violence comes amid what is being described as the most severe fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan in decades , with hostilities intensifying since late February. The conflict stems largely from Islamabad’s accusations that Kabul is sheltering militants, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out repeated attacks inside Pakistan. Afghanistan has consistently denied these claims.

In recent weeks, the situation has worsened dramatically. Both sides have engaged in cross-border strikes, air raids, and retaliatory operations , including reported Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Kabul earlier alleged that one such strike hit a drug treatment facility in Kabul , causing mass casualties, though Pakistan has denied targeting civilians, claiming it struck militant infrastructure.

A temporary truce brokered by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar ahead of Eid al-Fitr briefly paused hostilities. However, the ceasefire collapsed earlier this week, leading to renewed clashes, including Wednesday’s violence that reportedly killed additional civilians.

The conflict has now taken on the dimensions of an undeclared war , with Pakistan previously stating it was in “open war” with Afghanistan. The ongoing instability has raised alarm internationally, particularly given the presence of extremist groups such as al-Qaida and Islamic State in the region.

Diplomatic efforts, including talks held in Istanbul last November, have so far failed to yield a lasting resolution, leaving the border region volatile and civilians increasingly at risk.