Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border on Friday, officials from both countries said.
Clashes broke out between Afghan and Pakistani forces at the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
"Unfortunately, this evening the Pakistani side once again launched attacks towards Afghanistan in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, prompting the Islamic Emirate forces to respond," Mujahid said on social media platform X.
The confrontation began after Pakistani forces launched a hand grenade, local media outlet TOLOnews quoted Afghan Border Police spokesperson Abedullah Farooqi as saying.
In the early hours of Saturday local time, Mosharraf Zaidi, Pakistani prime minister's spokesperson for foreign media, confirmed that intense clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted in the border area.
"A short while ago, the Afghan Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the Chaman border. An immediate, befitting and intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety our citizens," he said in a post on X.
Local sources said that both sides used light and heavy weapons during the conflict, and residents on both sides of the border area have begun evacuation from the conflict zone.
Since October of this year, multiple clashes have taken place along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire on October 19. Following this, several rounds of talks were held in Doha, Istanbul, and Riyadh to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire, but no progress has been made.
Pakistan Afghanistan trade heavy fire along border: officials
Pakistan Afghanistan trade heavy fire along border: officials
Palestine appreciates China's constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Palestinian issue, Ambassador of Palestine to China Jawad Mohammed Qutish Awad said in Beijing on Friday.
When jointly meeting the press with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, President Xi Jinping announced China will provide 100 million U.S. dollars of assistance to Palestine to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support its recovery and reconstruction.
"Following two years of devastating war, over 90 percent of Gaza Strip's housing, infrastructure, hospitals, roads, and universities have been destroyed. China has consistently supported Palestine in various fields such as politics, economy, and development. This generous donation comes as timely aid for the Palestinian government and people," said the ambassador in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
More than 70,000 Palestinian people have been killed since the conflict in Gaza erupted on Oct 7, 2023, with millions suffering from extreme poverty and catastrophic hunger.
China has reiterated its support for the Palestinian liberation cause on multiple international occasions, firmly believing that the two-state solution remains the only realistic path to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue.
Through channels including the United Nations, Egypt, and Jordan, China has provided multiple batches of emergency humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip and extended material and financial support to the Palestinian Authority and other relevant parties. China has also emphasized that it is important to uphold the principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine" in the post-conflict governance of Gaza.
"We attach great importance to China's support for the two-state solution. Without the establishment of the State of Palestine, regional stability cannot be achieved. Gaza must be an inalienable part of the future Palestinian state. I would also like to reiterate here that the State of Palestine firmly supports the one-China principle," Jawad said.
China, one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine, established the strategic partnership with Palestine in 2023.
After countries including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada recognized the State of Palestine in September this year, the number of countries in the international community recognizing the State of Palestine has reached nearly 160, accounting for over 81 percent of the United Nations member states.
An increasing number of countries are looking to advance a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza through cooperation.
Jawad said that the China-proposed Global Governance Initiative offers the international community a more effective path to resolving the Palestinian issue.
"This initiative aligns with the strategic agreements between Palestine and China, contributing to ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and establishing the State of Palestine across all Palestinian territory. Without a just resolution to the Palestinian issue, neither the world nor the Middle East can achieve stability. The key to a just resolution lies in the implementation of international law," he said.
Palestine appreciates China's role in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace process: ambassador
