Cross-Border Shelling Shatters Ramadan Calm, Forcing Hundreds to Flee Pakistan-Afghanistan Frontier
By Mushtaq Ali and Hedayatshah Hedayat
LAL PUR, Afghanistan/PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 4 (Reuters) – For families along the rugged Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the sunset call to prayer now brings not peace, but terror. As fighting between the two nations entered its seventh day on Wednesday, residents reported heavy shelling and explosions, forcing many to contemplate abandoning their homes.
The clashes represent the most serious military confrontation in years between the South Asian neighbors, whose relationship has soured dramatically since the Taliban's return to power in Kabul. The volatility adds another layer of instability to a region already tense from conflicts in the Middle East.
The current crisis was triggered by Pakistani airstrikes last week on Afghan territory, which Islamabad says are necessary to dismantle militant sanctuaries it claims are used to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government has repeatedly denied providing such support.
Ramadan Nights Shattered by Shellfire
Residents on the Pakistani side describe a chilling daily pattern: daytime calm giving way to evening violence, precisely as families gather to break their fast during Ramadan.
"The silence of the day is deceptive. The moment we sit for *iftar*, the shelling begins," said Farid Khan Shinwari from Landi Kotal, near the strategic Torkham crossing. "We are trying to observe our holy month in a state of constant fear, never knowing if the next explosion will be at our door."
Similar scenes of panic are reported from the Afghan side of the 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border. Hundreds have been displaced to open fields, living under makeshift tents or with no shelter at all. Local officials estimate around 1,500 families have fled.
Diplomatic Overtures Amid Escalating Claims
As both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses and gained ground—claims Reuters cannot independently verify—diplomatic efforts are underway. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday that Ankara would help broker a ceasefire, stepping in as other potential mediators grapple with Gulf conflicts.
The human cost remains bitterly contested. Afghanistan's defence ministry stated on Wednesday that 110 civilians, including 65 women and children, have been killed and 123 wounded since the fighting began. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has documented 42 deaths to date.
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected the Afghan figures, insisting Pakistani operations are precisely targeted. "Pakistan exercises great care in only targeting terrorists and their support infrastructure. No civilian structures have been targeted," he said. Tarar also confirmed a Saturday strike on the former Bagram airbase, a key U.S. command hub during the Afghan war, targeting what he called "ammunition and critical equipment."
Voices from the Region:
"This is a catastrophic failure of diplomacy. These are people who share blood, culture, and faith, now being torn apart by shells. When will the generals in Islamabad and Kabul remember their humanity?" – Dr. Aisha Malik, political analyst based in Islamabad, her voice sharp with frustration.
"The security rationale from Pakistan is understandable, given the cross-border attacks they've suffered. However, a prolonged military exchange helps no one and only deepens the humanitarian crisis. Dialogue is the only path forward." – General (Ret.) Hamid Saeed, former Pakistani army officer, Lahore.
"Our data shows displacement figures are rising rapidly. The immediate need is for safe corridors and humanitarian aid for those caught in the crossfire, regardless of which side of the border they're on." – Sarah Chen, regional director for the International Crisis Relief Network.
"The Taliban government's denial of harboring militants rings hollow to us. But Pakistan's response feels disproportionate, punishing entire villages. This cycle of violence solves nothing and makes our holy month a living hell." – Khalid Mohmand, schoolteacher from Peshawar, his tone weary and emotional.
(Reporting by Hedayatshah Hedayat in Lal Pur, Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar and Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Additional reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Alex Richardson)