Fresh Clash Between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kunar Province Amid Border Trade Losses

A fresh clash erupted in Kunar province as Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani troops exchanged fire, further complicated by two-month border trade restrictions.

Clashes erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Kunar province on Wednesday afternoon, with Taliban forces and Pakistani border troops exchanging fire, according to local residents. The incident reportedly began after Pakistani forces fired rockets into Afghanistan territory, prompting retaliation from Taliban fighters.

Officials have not yet confirmed casualties or material damage, and neither Kabul or Islamabad have issued statements regarding the incident.

The ongoing tensions have been exacerbated by border restrictions imposed by Pakistan over the past two months. Cross-border trade and movement have been largely suspended, affecting thousands of Afghan and Pakistani traders.

According to the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, the restrictions have cost Pakistani traders more than $4.5 billion in lost trade opportunities, Dawn reported. The temporary closure has intensified economic strain and increased frustrations among local populations on both sides of the border.

These border restrictions highlight the fragility of security and trade links along the Durand Line. Analysts note that the lack of a formal agreement on border management and the frequent accusations of cross-border militancy contribute to repeated clashes. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim consistently rejected by Afghan Taliban officials.

In addition to security concerns, the Taliban have repeatedly criticized Pakistani rocket and artillery attacks as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty, further fueling tensions in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika provinces, where most of the exchanges of fire have occurred in recent months.

Experts warn that continued border confrontations, combined with economic restrictions, could escalate instability along the heavily contested Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, affecting regional trade and security.

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