Deadly clashes have erupted again along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, leaving two children dead and two civilians injured, as the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate said Pakistani forces targeted border positions with unmanned aerial vehicles and Afghan forces responded.

The latest incident occurred near the Torkham border crossing in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, where gunfire resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to two civilians.

Nangarhar Police Spokesman Tayyib Hammad said the incident took place on Wednesday in Hanabad village, located near the Torkham border crossing.

According to Hammad, one of the injured civilians was a local resident, while the other was an employee of the Haro humanitarian organisation.

However, two Pakistani officials stationed near Torkham told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that no armed incident had taken place in the area over the previous three days.

Clashes resume in Angur Ada

The border tensions also continued in the Angur Ada area of Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan.

Local sources reported that armed clashes broke out again on Thursday following confrontations in the area on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Afghanistan Ministry of Defence said Pakistani forces targeted border facilities in the area with drones on four occasions. The ministry added that Afghan forces responded by striking Pakistani military positions and checkpoints.

Long-running tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained tense since the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces and the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate's return to power in 2021.

Deadly border clashes in October last year led to the closure of several border crossings between the two countries.

Although mediation efforts temporarily reduced tensions, disputes between the two sides escalated again in February 2026.

Pakistan has accused armed groups responsible for deadly attacks inside the country of operating from Afghan territory and claimed that the Kabul administration allows such groups to continue their activities. The Afghanistan Islamic Emirate has rejected these allegations.

Renewed concerns over civilian casualties

The latest escalation has raised concerns over further civilian casualties and instability along the border.

Both sides have been urged to avoid steps that could further increase tensions and to resolve their disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels in order to prevent additional loss of life.(ILKHA)