Afghan and Pakistani negotiators were engaged in critical peace talks in Istanbul on Friday, following deadly clashes along their shared border that have put a fragile truce at risk.
The talks in Turkey were meant to cement a ceasefire agreed in Qatar last month, which ended a week of fierce clashes that killed dozens.
The South Asian neighbours were quick to blame each other for the renewed border fire, while reiterating their commitment to negotiations.
鈥榃e have children, young boys. This is now our daily routine. It all needs to stop so we can live our lives,鈥� said Enayatullah, 30, a resident in Spin Boldak on the Afghan side who gave only one name.
Four women and a man were killed in the Afghan border town, according to a district hospital official, while AFP journalists saw homes with damaged roofs.
In Chaman across the frontier in Pakistan, labourer Muhibullah Achakzai said he was playing cricket when 鈥榯hings suddenly got really bad鈥�.
鈥楾here are innocent children here, and we hope the area is kept under watch for everyone's safety,鈥� the 24-year-old told AFP.
The Taliban government in Kabul accused Pakistan of opening fire on Spin Boldak.
鈥楾he Islamic Emirate's forces, out of respect for the negotiation team and to prevent civilian casualties, have so far shown no reaction,鈥� spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Thursday, referring to the talks in Turkey.
Pakistan denied the accusation and said Afghanistan fired first.
鈥極ur security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner,鈥� Pakistan's information ministry said.
鈥楾he situation was brought under control due to responsible action by Pakistani forces and the ceasefire remains intact,鈥� it said.
鈥楶akistan remains committed to ongoing dialogue and expects reciprocity from Afghan authorities.鈥�
The Taliban authorities are yet to comment in detail on the talks in Istanbul, where longstanding security issues are expected to top the agenda.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that regularly claims deadly attacks in Pakistan.
The 鈥楶akistan delegation has handed over its evidence-based, justified and logical demands to the mediators with a singular aim: to put an end to cross-border terrorism鈥�, Islamabad's foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Friday.
The Afghan Taliban government denies sheltering the group, which is also known as the Pakistani Taliban.
Negotiations reached an impasse last week when it came to finalising ceasefire details, with both sides accusing the other of being unwilling to cooperate.
Islamabad wants Kabul to take credible and decisive measures against militant groups, particularly the TTP.
Kabul demands respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty.
The impasse demonstrated that tensions that were previously 鈥榮immering are now boiling鈥�, said Abdul Basit from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
鈥楾he elephant in the room is the TTP,鈥� he told AFP. 鈥業 wouldn't be surprised if the talks go south.鈥�
Afghanistan and Pakistan have both warned of a resumption of hostilities in case of failure.
In Chaman, Abdul Habib said residents were 鈥榠n great distress鈥� after 鈥榖ullets struck our houses鈥�.
鈥榃e ask the authorities to consider our situation and show sympathy towards us. May God create peace among them and bring reconciliation between them,鈥� the 61-year-old said.
The clashes in October were sparked by explosions in Kabul, killing five people, which the Taliban government blamed on Pakistan.
Fifty civilians were killed and 447 wounded on the Afghan side in the ensuing cross-border fighting, according to the United Nations.
The Pakistani army said 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 others wounded, without mentioning civilian casualties.
While residents told AFP the latest violence was brief, lasting 10 to 15 minutes, there were fears of further escalation in Spin Boldak.
鈥榃e ask both governments to pay attention to us,鈥� said Noor Mohammed, a 35-year-old resident.
鈥楾o agree on a truce, and to keep the war away from us.鈥�