Fresh clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have left a trail of casualties, with both sides trading accusations. Pakistan's military claims to have killed 15-20 Afghan Taliban and injured many in Spin Boldak, while a Taliban government spokesman reports 12 Afghan civilians and numerous Pakistani soldiers killed, and over 100 civilians wounded by Pakistani firing. The Taliban deny harboring militants targeting Pakistan. The violence erupted after explosions in Afghanistan, blamed on Islamabad, and has escalated since, with both sides vying for dominance on the border and in the social media narrative. The latest fighting follows intense clashes over the weekend, where the Taliban claimed 58 Pakistani military deaths, and Islamabad reported 200 'Taliban and affiliated terrorists' killed. The BBC cannot independently verify these death tolls. The situation is tense, with hundreds of families displaced and more casualties arriving at hospitals. A local Taliban official confirms the displacement and mentions attacks by Pakistani jets on Taliban posts. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of enabling the Pakistan Taliban to operate against the Islamabad government, a claim the Taliban deny. The clashes have sparked calls for de-escalation from global powers and even a potential peace-broker role from US President Donald Trump. The UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan's human rights situation expresses deep concern over civilian casualties and displacement, urging all parties to exercise restraint and protect civilians.
