Fresh deadly border clashes have broken out between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban forces, with both sides accusing each other of breaking a fragile ceasefire.
Residents fled the Afghan city of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,574 km) border the two countries share.
A medical source in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto a local hospital had received the bodies of four people. Three injuries have been reported in Pakistan.
Sporadic fighting has repeatedly broken out between the two in recent months, while Afghanistan's Taliban government has also accused Pakistan of carrying out air strikes inside the country.
Both sides have confirmed they exchanged fire overnight but blamed the other for initiating the four hours of fighting.
Pakistani spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi accused the Taliban of unprovoked firing and stated, An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert & committed to ensuring its territorial integrity & the safety of our citizens. Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson claimed Pakistan had once again initiated attacks and said it was forced to respond.
Footage from the area showed a mass exodus of Afghans fleeing amidst the renewed conflict.
The clashes followed a recent ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar and Turkey that had aimed to ease tensions after months of hostilities.
Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harboring armed groups that launch attacks into Pakistan, a claim denied by the Taliban, which argues that Pakistan blames others for its own security issues.
Last week, delegations from both sides met in Saudi Arabia for continued negotiations on a broader peace settlement, despite failing to reach an agreement. Both parties, however, were said to have affirmed their commitment to maintaining the ceasefire.
