Heavy shelling, explosions spark fear along Pakistan-Afghanistan border

LAL PUR, Afghanistan/PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 4 (Reuters) – People living along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan said they were considering fleeing their homes because of heavy shelling and explosions as fighting between troops from ‌both sides entered a seventh day on Wednesday.

The South Asian allies-turned-foes have engaged in their worst fighting in years following Pakistani airstrikes on major Afghan cities last week, increasing volatility in a region also on edge over U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Islamabad has said its airstrikes, which have at times directly targeted the Taliban government, are aimed at ending Afghan support for militants carrying out attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban has denied aiding militant groups.

SHELLING STARTS AS VILLAGERS ARE BREAKING RAMADAN FAST

Residents of towns and villages in Pakistan’s ⁠northwest said fighting between border forces starts in the evenings, placing their homes in the line of fire, often at sunset when families are breaking their fast in the holy month of Ramadan.

“There is complete silence in the day, but the moment we sit for iftar dinner, the two sides start shelling,” Farid Khan Shinwari from Landi Kotal, a town near the Torkham border crossing, told Reuters.

“We open our fast in extremely difficult situations, as you never know when a shell can hit your house.”

Residents in the town and nearby villages said there had been heavy shelling and some explosions heard in the past few days, prompting many to flee their homes.

On the other side of the border, Afghans shared similar stories of skirmishes and families fleeing their homes.

Hundreds had been displaced to an open dirt field under makeshift ‌tents, while ⁠others had no shelter at all. Officials say around 1,500 families have fled their homes.

Fighting along the 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border has ebbed and flowed over the week-long conflict, with both sides saying they have inflicted heavy losses on the other country and gained ground in the fighting.

About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore