Both Sides Have Used Light and Heavy Weapons, Raising Concerns That a Long-running Land Dispute Could Escalate Further

Armed clashes between two tribes over a disputed mountain area on the Khost-Paktika border have entered a fourth day, with heavy weapons reportedly used. The fighting involves the Bori Khail tribe from Khost's Spira district and the Giyan Khail tribe from Paktika's Giyan district, according to local reports. Both sides have used light and heavy weapons, raising concerns that a long-running land dispute could escalate further.

The disputed mountain, located between Spira and Giyan districts, is covered with forests, including valuable pine nut trees, which residents say has intensified disagreements over ownership and control. The dispute has existed for decades and has repeatedly led to armed confrontations. Shah Mir Khan, a resident of Spira district, claimed that around 80 people had been killed or injured in earlier incidents linked to the dispute, though the figure could not be independently verified.

Radio Hurriyat, a media outlet close to the Taliban, reported that the clashes had entered their fourth day, with both sides using heavy weapons. The outlet published footage allegedly showing a person firing a mortar toward opposing positions, though its authenticity could not be independently verified. Taliban forces have been deployed to the area to prevent further escalation and separate the two sides, according to Radio Hurriyat.

Shelling during the clashes damaged at least two houses in Gelay village of Giyan district. No official casualty figure for the latest fighting has been confirmed, but local sources report at least two people injured, with details on possible deaths unclear. The mountain dispute is rooted in competing claims of historical ownership, with tensions continuing for generations, frequently linked to access to natural resources and grazing or forest areas.

Radio Hurriyat reported that the broader dispute has continued for nearly 80 years, claiming around 250 people from both sides have been killed over the decades, though casualty estimates vary and have not been independently verified. Residents have called on Taliban authorities in Khost and Paktika to intervene and establish a permanent solution, warning that continued fighting could further destabilize the border area and deepen tensions. The ongoing confrontation highlights the persistent impact of unresolved tribal land disputes in Afghanistan, where competing claims over territory and natural resources have repeatedly triggered armed conflicts despite broader security claims by authorities.