Pakistan, Afghan forces exchange fire after airstrikes deepen tensions

Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire along their border on Tuesday, with each side accusing the other of initiating the clash, days ​after Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan strained already tenuous ties.



The incident marks the latest flare-up along the 2,600-km border, where tensions have risen since Pakistan's strikes on Saturday and Sunday and threaten a fragile ceasefire following deadly clashes in October.



Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistan's prime minister, told Reuters the Afghan Taliban authorities had initiated "unprovoked firing" in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.



"Pakistan's security forces responded immediately and effectively, silencing the Taliban aggression," Zaidi said, warning that any further provocation would be met "immediately and severely."



Afghan officials gave a different account, saying Pakistani forces opened fire and that Afghan troops responded.