Fierce fighting broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday, leaving multiple soldiers and civilians reportedly dead as fresh hostilities erupted near the disputed Durand Line. Both sides traded heavy gunfire and artillery shelling, each blaming the other for initiating the confrontation.

Local sources indicated that the clashes began after a dispute over new fencing activity, a long-standing point of contention between the two nations. Residents in nearby villages reported panic as explosions echoed across the frontier, forcing families to flee to safer areas.

Officials in Islamabad and Kabul have yet to release detailed casualty figures, but early reports suggest several fatalities and dozens injured. Diplomatic efforts are underway as regional leaders call for immediate de-escalation.

The border-already known for volatility-has witnessed heightened tensions in recent months, raising concerns about a wider conflict if dialogue fails to resume.