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IEA forces recapture Spin Boldak gate after fierce clashes; heavy losses reported for Pakistani troops
Mohammad Ali Haqmal, the spokesperson for Spin Boldak district, confirmed that fighting has now subsided following a ceasefire request from Pakistan.
Heavy fighting erupted along the Spin Boldak–Chaman border early Wednesday, as Afghan and Pakistani forces clashed in one of the most intense cross-border confrontations in recent months.
According to local sources, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) forces successfully recaptured the Spin Boldak gate from Pakistani control following hours of sustained combat that left several soldiers and civilians dead or wounded.
The clashes began around 4 am, when Pakistani troops reportedly launched an assault near the border crossing in Kandahar province’s Spin Boldak district. Afghan security units stationed in the area responded immediately, engaging in heavy gunfire and artillery exchanges that continued for several hours.
By mid-morning, Afghan forces had regained full control of the Spin Boldak gate — a critical border post connecting Afghanistan’s Kandahar province with Pakistan’s Balochistan region — after inflicting what sources described as “significant casualties” on Pakistani forces.
Mohammad Ali Haqmal, the spokesperson for Spin Boldak district, confirmed that fighting has now subsided following a ceasefire request from Pakistan.
“Afghan security forces stood firm with high morale against the attacks,” Haqmal told Ariana News. “After suffering heavy losses, the Pakistani side requested a ceasefire. Our forces now have complete control over the Spin Boldak crossing.”
Local health officials said that several civilians — including women and children — were caught in the crossfire, with casualties reported on both sides of the border. Medical teams have been dispatched to assist the wounded, while authorities are working to assess the full scale of the damage.
Security officials said reinforcements from Kandahar city and neighboring districts were deployed to secure the border area and prevent further escalation. Witnesses in Spin Boldak reported seeing military convoys moving toward the front line throughout the morning as tensions remained high.
The Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing is one of Afghanistan’s busiest border points, serving as a key artery for trade and the movement of people between the two countries. Its control carries both economic and symbolic weight, particularly amid deteriorating relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Tensions have sharply escalated in recent weeks following repeated border incidents, airspace violations, and mutual accusations of harboring militants. Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of conducting unprovoked cross-border attacks and airstrikes on civilian areas in Afghanistan’s Paktika and Khost provinces, while Islamabad alleges that armed groups have staged attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan territory.
Wednesday’s confrontation marks a serious flare-up in a relationship already strained by border disputes and growing mistrust. Analysts say the fighting reflects a shift in the IEA’s posture — signaling a willingness to respond militarily to any perceived violations of Afghan sovereignty.
“The recapture of the Spin Boldak gate is not just a tactical win but a political message,” said an Afghan security analyst based in Kandahar. “It shows that the Islamic Emirate is asserting control and will no longer tolerate Pakistani incursions or pressure.”
As of late-morning Wednesday, the situation remained tense but calm, with both sides reportedly maintaining communication through local commanders to prevent further escalation. Residents, however, expressed concern that the fragile ceasefire could break down at any moment.
Spin Boldak has historically been a flashpoint between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with periodic clashes over territorial demarcation and control of border crossings. The latest violence adds to a growing list of confrontations that threaten to destabilize an already volatile frontier region.
While neither side has released official casualty figures, local sources claim that Pakistani forces sustained heavy losses during the battle. Afghan officials have so far refrained from confirming specific numbers.
The IEA’s Ministry of Defense has yet to issue a formal statement, but officials in Kandahar emphasized that Afghan forces remain on high alert and ready to defend the country’s territorial integrity “against any external aggression.”
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue says it has prevented several cases of forced and underage marriage in the past five months, as UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect girls and end child marriage.
Ministry spokesperson Saif-ul-Islam Khyber said the cases included attempts to prevent the marriages of two girls, aged six and eight, in Helmand and Nangarhar provinces. He attributed child marriage partly to a lack of awareness and harmful traditional practices, urging the public to report forced marriages to authorities.
In a statement marking the International Day of the Girl 2026, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale called for greater investment in girls’ education, healthcare and protection.
According to Afghanistan’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022–23, 28.7% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, with the proportion reaching one in two girls in some areas.
UNICEF warned that child marriage can disrupt education, limit future opportunities and expose girls to violence, early pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.
The agency urged the authorities to reopen schools to girls beyond Grade 6, describing continued access to education as one of the most effective ways to prevent child marriage. It also called for stronger protection services, support for vulnerable families and access to essential healthcare.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for an end to child marriage, warning that the practice threatens millions of girls’ education, health and safety.
UNICEF said coordinated action by families, communities, authorities and international partners is essential to ensure Afghan girls can learn, grow and shape their own futures.
UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett says Pakistani airstrikes that kill Afghan civilians may constitute war crimes, calling for independent investigations and accountability.
In an interview with the BBC, Bennett said the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had documented civilian casualties in the cross-Durand Line violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with women and children among those killed.
Bennett said this is a very serious issue, noting that the consequences of the conflict disproportionately affect society’s most marginalized and disadvantaged people.
He also cited a March airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, saying that, according to figures attributed to UNAMA, 269 people were killed. The victims were men undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for drug addiction, he added.
Bennett called for full and independent investigations into the incidents, saying victims and their families deserved justice and accountability.
He said he had raised the issue with the UN Human Rights Council, which has yet to establish a dedicated mechanism to investigate the attacks. However, he pointed to an independent investigative mechanism established a year earlier that could potentially examine the incidents.
Bennett also called on the ICC to consider investigating the alleged attacks, noting that the court already has an ongoing investigation into the situation in Afghanistan. While the decision rests with the court, he said he hoped it would examine the incidents closely.
His remarks come amid mounting concerns over cross-Durand Line violence and its toll on Afghan civilians.
In early October, UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN mission had documented more than 1,100 civilian casualties in Afghanistan resulting from cross-Durand Line violence in 2026.
The United Nations has called for de-escalation and respect for international law, stressing that civilians must be protected from the effects of armed conflict.
Latest News
IEA condemn attacks on Saudi airports amid rising regional tensions
It urged all parties involved to refrain from violence, prevent further escalation and take necessary measures to protect civilians.
The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern over recent attacks on Riyadh and other airports in Saudi Arabia, describing the reported civilian casualties as deeply regrettable.
In a statement issued on Monday, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the ministry, said that any attack threatening the lives and safety of civilians is condemnable.
The ministry warned that escalating violence and the widening scope of the conflict could jeopardize the security and stability of the entire region.
It urged all parties involved to refrain from violence, prevent further escalation and take necessary measures to protect civilians.
According to Saudi officials, one person was killed and 12 others injured in Saturday’s attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
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