Pakistan on Thursday rejected claims by the Afghan authorities regarding the recent exchange of fire at the Chaman border, saying the incident was initiated from the Afghan side. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that firing by Afghan forces prompted Pakistani security personnel to respond “in a measured and responsible manner.” “The situation was brought under control due to the disciplined and professional action of our forces, and the ceasefire at the border remains intact,” the statement added. The ministry emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to resolving border issues through dialogue and expects “reciprocity and seriousness” from Kabul. Afghan Taliban officials had claimed that Pakistani forces fired on Spin Boldak for 10–15 minutes, while they refrained from returning fire. Pakistan maintains that the firing was initiated by Afghan forces. The incident comes as delegations from both countries are in Istanbul for another round of peace talks, following negotiations that began in Doha, Qatar, on October 19. Last month, clashes along the border left over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants dead, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred. The security forces also conducted strikes inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul, destroying terrorists’ hideouts in the country. The two sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire on October 17, bringing an end to hostilities after week-long clashes. Following the first round of talks in Doha, the two sides met again in Istanbul on October 25 for talks, which continued till October 31. Delegations from both sides are currently in Turkiye to further discuss matters regarding peace in the region. Pakistan recorded a sharp increase in terror incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban regime took power in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to prevent terrorist groups from using its soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan. However, the Taliban regime largely remained indifferent to Pakistan’s demands and provided refuge to multiple terrorist groups targeting security forces and civilians.
Pakistan says ceasefire holds despite Afghan firing at Chaman border
