(MENAFN) Border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan intensified sharply on Saturday as both armies engaged in heavy artillery exchanges along their shared frontier.

This flare-up follows accusations by Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government, which alleged that the Pakistani military violated Kabul’s airspace and bombed a market in the Margha area of Paktika province near the Pakistan border on Thursday night.

Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the alleged strikes but emphasized its commitment to safeguarding its citizens amid a rising wave of terrorism blamed on the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistani security officials told media that heavy firing began Saturday evening along the border and continues to affect provinces such as Khost, Nangarhar, Paktika, Paktia, Kunar, and Khost.

"Firing along the eastern border provinces, including Khost, Nangarhar, Paktika, Paktia, Kunar and Khost, is continuing, and there are reports of some casualties but we cannot confirm the figures at the moment," said a security source, accusing Afghan border forces of initiating the attacks.

Islamabad has not released an official statement regarding the ongoing confrontations along the extensive 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) border.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s interim Defense Ministry stated that Kabul’s military struck Pakistani targets "in response to repeated violations of Afghanistan’s airspace and airstrikes carried out on Afghan territory by the Pakistani military."

The ministry’s brief statement added that Afghan forces "conducted successful retaliatory operations targeting Pakistani security outposts along the Durand Line. These operations concluded at midnight (local time)."

Social media has circulated videos showing intense artillery fire along the border, though the exact locations remain unverified. Media could not independently confirm the footage’s authenticity.

Pakistan maintains that TTP militants operate from Afghan soil and accuses Kabul of failing to stop the group—a coalition of militant factions—from launching attacks inside Pakistan.

Afghanistan denies these allegations and reaffirms its position against allowing its territory to be used for hostile activities targeting its neighbor.

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