Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, December 06, 2025
Heavy cross-border clashes erupted overnight between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani military along the volatile Afghanistan–Pakistan border near the Chaman–Spin Boldak crossing on December 5, 2025, intensifying longstanding tensions tied to militant activity and sovereignty disputes.
Details of the Clashes
The fighting began around 10:30 PM local time and lasted approximately two hours. Both sides exchanged intense artillery and mortar fire in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province and the adjoining border areas of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported on both sides before a temporary ceasefire was agreed.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistani forces of initiating the attack on Taliban military posts and claimed that Afghan forces responded in self-defense. Afghan officials further alleged that Pakistani forces abandoned nearly 30 border outposts during the confrontation, though independent verification is lacking.
Conversely, Pakistan’s Prime Minister spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that the Afghan Taliban launched an unprovoked assault across the border, prompting a swift and intense counter-response from Pakistani troops. Pakistani officials maintained their actions were conducted in self-defense to safeguard territorial integrity.
Casualties and Damage Reported
No immediate casualties were officially confirmed by local authorities on either side. However, civilian residents in Spin Boldak reported mortar shelling impacting homes, raising concerns about the safety of non-combatants in the area. This latest flare-up follows deadly clashes in October 2025, which resulted in over 70 fatalities and hundreds of injuries, marking one of the bloodiest episodes since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Broader Context and Historical Escalations
The December clashes are part of a broader pattern of escalating hostilities beginning in October 2025 when Pakistan conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts across Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika provinces. In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban launched cross-border attacks on Pakistani military posts, provoking several days of heavy fighting. Pakistan claimed the elimination of roughly 200 Afghan and TTP fighters, with 23 of its soldiers killed and 29 wounded.
Following intense international mediation, a fragile ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey temporarily reduced violence. Subsequent peace talks in Doha, Istanbul, and Saudi Arabia, however, have failed to yield a durable resolution. The recent clashes occurred days after the latest round of talks ended without a breakthrough, underscoring persistent mistrust.
Strategic Importance and Security Challenges
The Afghanistan–Pakistan border, demarcated by the disputed Durand Line, remains one of South Asia’s most sensitive and unstable frontiers. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing safe haven and support to the TTP, a designated terrorist organization responsible for frequent militant attacks within Pakistan. The Taliban deny these claims and counter-accuse Pakistan of backing anti-Taliban factions and meddling in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Continual border violence threatens to destabilize the fragile security situation in both countries and the wider region, with significant humanitarian repercussions. The risk of civilian displacement, disruption to critical humanitarian aid flows into Afghanistan, and broader regional instability remains acute.
Diplomatic efforts, involving Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, are expected to continue seeking a cessation of hostilities. However, the underlying issues of trust, militant activity, and unresolved border disputes pose formidable challenges to long-term peace prospects between Afghanistan and Pakistan.