Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces clashed near the Torkham border crossing in northwestern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of a woman and two children on the Afghan side. The incident led to the closure of the crossing, halting trade and movement between the two countries. Zahid Khan, a local Pakistani official, reported the casualties on the Afghan side but did not have information on any Pakistani casualties.
The Torkham border, situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is an essential crossing point for trade and travel between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Cross-border fire exchanges are not uncommon in this region, with both sides previously shutting down Torkham and the Chaman border crossing for various reasons.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, accused Pakistani forces of targeting civilians during the clash that occurred on Monday. He stated that the Afghan forces responded to Pakistani fire near the Durand Line in the Torkham area. Afghan forces reported destroying two Pakistani border posts in the skirmish.
Efforts to reduce tensions were underway as Pakistani officials confirmed communication between the two sides. Thousands of people living near the Torkham border evacuated to safer areas following the clash, while trucks carrying perishable goods remained stranded on both sides of the crossing, waiting for it to reopen.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan, like many other nations, has not officially recognized the Taliban government. Concerns persist within the international community regarding the Taliban’s stringent policies, particularly those affecting the rights of women and minorities.