Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border late on Friday, officials from both countries said, amid heightened tensions following failed peace talks earlier this week.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Each side accused the other of initiating the latest round of hostilities.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces launched attacks in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, prompting what he described as a necessary response from the Islamic Emirate’s troops.

Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying the exchange was triggered by unprovoked firing from the Afghan side.

In a statement on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, said Taliban forces opened “unprovoked fire” at the Chaman border, to which the Pakistan Army delivered an immediate and effective response.

He added that Pakistan remained fully prepared and vigilant to safeguard its borders and citizens.

“Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” Mosharraf Zaidi.

The exchange came two days after a new round of peace talks between the two countries ended without a breakthrough, though both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.

Footage emerging from the area showed residents fleeing as clashes intensified, while images also appeared showing damage to the Bab-e-Dosti border gate connecting the two countries.

Earlier, senior representatives from Pakistan and the Taliban government held a meeting in Saudi Arabia, where both sides had expressed commitment to maintaining a ceasefire.

No major breakthrough had been reported from the talks.

Earlier, two rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul also ended without progress, with each side blaming the other for the failure.

For more than 50 days, cross-border movement between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained suspended, and trade routes have been virtually closed — causing significant economic losses on both sides.

Pakistan is currently allowing only Afghan nationals to return, while all other activities remain halted.