Kabul, Dec 18 (NationPress) Recent clashes have ignited between the military forces of Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kunar, as both sides engaged in an intense exchange of fire along their shared border, according to local media reports citing residents.

These skirmishes reportedly began on Wednesday when Pakistani forces launched rockets into Afghan territory. In response, Taliban forces retaliated against the initial assault, as reported by Afghanistan's prominent news agency Khaama Press.

As of now, neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan has released an official statement regarding this incident. The ongoing tensions between the two nations have escalated due to border restrictions implemented by Kabul over the last two months. This has led to a significant suspension of cross-border trade and movement, adversely affecting thousands of traders from both countries.

According to a joint statement from Ziaul Haq Sarhadi of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) and former senior vice-president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manzoor Ellahi, Pakistan has suffered losses exceeding USD 4.5 billion as a result of the halted trade with Afghanistan, as reported by Pakistan's leading daily Dawn.

Previously, on December 5, both Afghan and Pakistani forces engaged in a heavy exchange of fire at the border, with each side blaming the other for instigating the conflict.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the caretaker Afghan government, took to social media to announce that Pakistan conducted attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, which prompted a military response from Afghan forces.

"Unfortunately, this evening, the Pakistani forces once again attacked Afghanistan in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, prompting a response from the Islamic Emirate forces," posted Mujahid on X.

Attempts by negotiating teams from both Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve the ongoing issues in talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar have thus far failed to yield a lasting agreement.

The border shared by the two nations is known to be volatile, experiencing heavy fighting for over a month, with Islamabad reportedly conducting multiple air raids within Afghan territory.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban of providing sanctuary to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim that Afghanistan has firmly rejected. The Taliban has repeatedly condemned the rocket and artillery assaults by Pakistan as violations of Afghan sovereignty, further escalating tensions in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika—regions where most of the recent armed exchanges have occurred.