More than 100,000 people have been displaced after fighting intensified between Pakistani and Afghan forces along their shared border, according to the United Nations.

 

The clashes, which have continued for more than a week, involve heavy shelling, air strikes and cross-border attacks. The UN refugee agency reported that about 115,000 people have fled their homes in Afghanistan. In comparison, around 3,000 people have been displaced in Pakistan as communities move away from areas affected by the fighting.

 

According to Reuters, Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire at several points along the roughly 2,600-kilometre border on Friday, marking one of the most serious escalations between the two neighbours in recent years.

 

The Afghan Ministry of Defence said its forces targeted Pakistani military positions along the frontier, claiming several posts were destroyed and a drone was shot down. However, Pakistani security officials said their forces carried out both ground and air operations against what they described as military targets inside Afghanistan.

 

The fighting has reportedly reached key areas such as Kandahar, a stronghold of Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership. Pakistan maintains that its strikes are aimed at militant groups it believes operate from Afghan territory.

 

Homes in border communities have also been caught in the crossfire. Residents told Reuters that shelling often begins after sunset, at a time when families are gathered for evening meals during the holy month of Ramadan.

 

Some families have fled to nearby districts, where temporary shelters and makeshift camps have been set up for displaced civilians.

 

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that at least 56 civilians have been killed and 128 wounded since the conflict began. Afghan authorities say the number of civilian deaths may be higher. Pakistan, however, has rejected the figures, insisting its military operations target militants rather than civilians.

 

Public anger has also been growing inside Afghanistan. According to Reuters, groups of protesters gathered in Kabul and in eastern provinces to demonstrate against Pakistan’s air strikes, chanting slogans and calling for an end to the attacks.

 

Despite the rising tensions, there are currently no signs of negotiations between the two countries. Pakistan’s government spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi told state television that there were no talks planned to end the conflict, saying Pakistan’s priority was protecting its citizens from militant attacks.

 

The conflict began last week after Pakistan launched air strikes inside Afghanistan, claiming the operation targeted militant bases responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan authorities condemned the strikes as a violation of their sovereignty and announced retaliatory military action.

 

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harbouring militants who carry out cross-border attacks, an allegation the Taliban government denies. Afghan officials insist that militancy in Pakistan is an internal issue.

 

Several countries have offered to mediate between the two sides. However, diplomatic efforts appear limited as global attention has also shifted to escalating tensions in the Middle East, Reuters reported.

 

For now, thousands of families on both sides of the border remain displaced, uncertain about when it will be safe to return to their homes.