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Clashes between Afghan, Pakistani troops leave 15 dead, 80 wounded – Kandahar
Fifteen civilians have been killed and 80 others wounded in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces in Kandahar province on Thursday evening.
The Spin Boldak-Chaman friendship gate witnessed a bloody clash between Afghan and Pakistani troops on Thursday evening.
The clashes erupted after Pakistani militias shot dead a number of passengers across the supposed Durand Line. Officials say that 15 people, including women and children, were killed and 80 others were injured in the clashes.
“Pakistani troops opened fire on civilians in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. The Afghan military responded to the Pakistani forces. 15 civilians were killed and about 80 others were wounded,” said Kandahar governor’s spokesman Baheer Ahmadi.
The Pakistani government opened the Spin Boldak Gate to passengers three days ago. But on Thursday, Pakistani troops re-blocked the Spin Boldak gate, despite a government decision, prompting a backlash from a number of passengers across the supposed Durand Line.
Those injured in the incident also said that first, the Pakistani military fired on the civilians, and then the Afghan military in response to this, fired on the Pakistani military.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement that the army chief of staff had ordered the air and border forces to be on high alert. The Afghan Ministry of Defense said in a statement that if the Pakistani military attacks, Afghan forces would retaliate.
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Pakistan says cross-Durand Line communities seek peace and stability
Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.
Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.
However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.
He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.
Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.
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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.
The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
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Pakistan’s Achakzai calls for freer movement across disputed Durand Line
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.
Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.
“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.
The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.
Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.
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