In brief
Afghan provincial authorities say Pakistani forces opened fire near Torkham, killing two civilians and injuring two others. The Afghan defence ministry earlier blamed Pakistan for drone attacks and claims its forces struck back. The incident follows months of cross‑border clashes with each side blaming the other.
KABUL, Oct. 29—Afghan provincial authorities announced on Thursday that Pakistani troops opened fire in the Khanabad area near the Torkham border crossing on Wednesday, killing two and wounding two others, according to the provincial government office’s statement. The report was carried by Xinhua and echoed by Big News Network.
The Afghan defence ministry stated earlier that its forces had carried out retaliatory strikes in response to four drone attacks launched by Pakistani armed forces on a border commissariat and nearby security installations in eastern Paktika province on the same day. Afghan officials say those counter‑operations inflicted casualties among Pakistani personnel.
Cross‑border skirmishes and intermittent aerial strikes have persisted since February, producing casualties and material damage on both sides. Each nation has consistently blamed the other for initiating the hostilities, with Afghan and Pakistani officials exchanging accusations on various security platforms.
Both Xinhua and Big News Network reported that the Afghan side’s claim of a Pakistani crossing‑border fire remains unverified by independent observers; the incident is currently being investigated by border security agencies on both sides. The latest report adds to a series of tensions that have escalated in the region since early 2026.
