Three Afghan civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed in a border clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan near the Torkham crossing late on Monday. According to Mufti Abdul Mateen, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, Pakistani border forces opened fire on Afghan forces, which led to a response from the Afghan side. The Pakistani military did not immediately comment on the incident.
The clash disrupted trade and movement at the Torkham border, a key crossing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The border was closed, affecting both local trade and the movement of people. Pakistani officials reported that three paramilitary troops were wounded, while Afghan officials claimed that Afghan forces destroyed two Pakistani border posts.
The conflict along the Afghan-Pakistan border is common due to its contentious history, dating back to its colonial-era demarcation. Each side has previously closed the Torkham and Chaman crossings for various reasons.
Local officials in Pakistan noted that thousands of people near the border fled to safer areas, and trucks carrying perishable goods were stranded, waiting for the border to reopen.
The clash highlights ongoing tensions between the two countries, exacerbated by Pakistan’s non-recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which seized power in August 2021 following the U.S. and NATO withdrawal.
