Afghan-Pakistan Border Clashes Escalate

0:00On March 1st, Afghan and Pakistani forces have classed fiercely along their shared border for days now, with airstrikes hitting key spots like the former U.S. airbase at Bogrum and cities including Kabul and Kandahar. The fighting kicked off Thursday when Afghanistan launched an offensive in response to earlier Pakistani attacks that Afghan officials say killed, civilians. Pakistan has confirmed striking dozens of locations inside Afghanistan. overnight battles raged in provinces like Nangarhar, Coast, and Pactia, while drones and jets buzzed the border areas. Two civilians died in drone strikes according to local reports, an explosions echoed in Kabul, prompting Taliban anti-aircraft fire. Pakistani jets tried bombing Vagrum because no reported damage or casualties there. Residents near the frontier fled their homes, voicing fears and pleas for the fighting to end. Afghan officials claim Pakistani fire has killed 36 civilians since Thursday, alongside heavy troop losses on both sides, over 300.

1:0350 Afghan soldiers per Pakistan, and more than 80 Pakistani per Afghanistan. These numbers are tough to verify independently. The escalation stems from long-simmering tensions over militant groups, like the Tehrik e-Taliban Pakistan launching attacks into Pakistan from Afghan. Soil, which the Taliban denies sheltering, diplomatic pushes by Saudi Arabia and Qatar have failed to broker a true so far. This marks the worst violence between the neighbors since October last year when over 70 died and borders mostly closed, leaving the situation, tense and unresolved as clashes continue.