Afghanistan authorities say four civilians have been killed after an exchange of heavy fire with Pakistan’s forces along their shared border, as tensions between the South Asian neighbours escalate after peace talks in Saudi Arabia failed to produce a breakthrough.

The governor of Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak district in the Kandahar province confirmed the deaths on Saturday. Officials from both sides said the clashes broke out late on Friday night, with the two countries accusing one another of opening fire first.

In a post on X, the spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Pakistani forces had “launched attacks towards” the Spin Boldak district, prompting Afghan forces to respond.