Dozens Killed and Wounded in Spin Boldak Border Fighting; UN Concerned Over Civilian Casualties and Displacement
KANDAHAR – The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the escalating conflict along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border following a significant clash today that reportedly resulted in dozens of civilian casualties and forced people from their homes.
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, urgently called on both nations to de-escalate the situation. He stated, “I am concerned about numerous civilian casualties and people being forced to leave their homes due to the fighting. I urgently called on both sides to use maximum restraint, protect civilians, and follow international law.”
The warning from the UN official followed a major border clash that erupted this morning in the Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the violence began around 4 am when Pakistani forces allegedly attacked the border area with heavy weapons. Mujahid claimed that this initial attack killed at least 12 Afghan civilians and injured over 100 others. He added that Afghan forces were compelled to fight back, claiming to have killed multiple Pakistani soldiers and captured some of their posts.
Reports from local medical staff in Kandahar paint a grave picture of the toll, with local hospitals receiving at least 25 bodies and over 80 injured people following the attack. Officials confirmed that many of the wounded were women and children residing in residential areas near the border.
The fighting comes just days after the Taliban claimed a separate retaliatory operation on October 12, in which they alleged to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers. The international community is said to be closely monitoring the volatile situation along the contested frontier.
