Intense gunfire broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late Friday night, with both sides confirming the exchange of fire. No casualties were immediately reported. The Taliban government in Kabul alleged that Pakistani forces initiated the attack on Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, while Islamabad accused Afghan troops of firing first at the Chaman border without provocation. The incident comes just two days after peace talks between the two countries in Saudi Arabia ended without progress. Pakistani Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to protecting its territorial integrity and citizens. The renewed violence follows a period of relative calm since October, when the first direct clashes were halted through Qatari and Turkish mediation. Analysts warn that the latest border skirmish could further strain already fragile relations between Islamabad and Kabul, especially amid Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan nationals are behind recent terrorist attacks inside its territory—claims the Taliban government has strongly denied.