Pakistan and Afghanistan Trade Fire Along Border as 100,000 Displaced

Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire at dozens of points along their border on Friday, forcing more than 100,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The escalation marks the worst violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan in years. Fighting has included Pakistani air strikes on Taliban government sites, including the Bagram Air Base north of Kabul.

Afghan officials said Taliban forces targeted Pakistani military positions along the 2,600 km border and shot down a drone. Pakistani security sources said their forces struck Afghan targets including in Kandahar and destroyed several border posts.

Residents in border towns said shelling often begins after sunset, placing homes in the line of fire as families break their fast during Ramadan.

The UN estimates that about 115,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan and roughly 3,000 in Pakistan since the fighting began last week.

The conflict started after Pakistan launched air strikes inside Afghanistan targeting militant groups. Kabul called the attacks a violation of sovereignty and launched retaliatory operations. Both sides accuse each other of supporting militant activity, while each claims heavy losses inflicted on the other, figures that remain unverified.

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