At Least 15 Afghan Civilians Killed in New Border Clashes with Pakistan

At least 15 civilians were killed and around 100 others injured in fresh clashes along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, Afghan officials reported Wednesday.

In the Afghan border town of Spin Boldak, overnight fighting and mortar shelling broke out, said Ali Mohammad Haqmal, spokesperson for the city’s Information Department, confirming that 15 civilians had lost their lives.

The death toll was corroborated by Abdul Jan Barak, an official at Spin Boldak district hospital, who said more than 80 women and children were among the injured.

All local businesses have been shuttered, and many residents have fled the area, according to journalists on the ground.

These latest clashes come amid longstanding tensions between the two neighboring countries, fueled by ongoing security disputes.