On Friday night, Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy gunfire along their border, specifically in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar. This escalation occurred just days after peace talks in Saudi Arabia failed to yield any significant progress. Both sides have accused each other of launching unprovoked attacks, with Afghan officials claiming that Pakistani forces initiated the conflict. Reports indicate that the exchange lasted for about two hours and involved both light and heavy artillery, with mortar rounds reportedly hitting civilian homes. This incident follows a series of deadly clashes in October, which were among the worst since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. The ongoing tensions have raised questions about the durability of the ceasefire agreement between the two nations.