KHOST: At least seven Afghan civilians were reportedly shot dead by Pakistani border forces near the Barabcha area of Balochistan on Tuesday, amid escalating clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier.
According to Afghan and Iranian media outlets, the victims were laborers attempting to cross into Pakistan for work when they were detained and killed by Pakistani troops. The incident has sparked outrage in Afghanistan, where authorities condemned the killings as a violation of international humanitarian norms and called for an independent investigation.
The reported shootings came as border tensions intensified, with heavy exchanges of fire between Taliban border forces and Pakistani troops in Afghanistan’s Khost province on Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, similar skirmishes were reported near the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar, while sporadic clashes were also said to be spreading toward Nangarhar and Helmand provinces.
Local sources described the situation along several stretches of the border as “highly volatile,” warning of further escalation if both sides fail to de-escalate.
The Pakistan–Afghanistan border, known as the Durand Line, has long been a flashpoint for violence and mutual accusations of cross-border aggression.
