Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban have strongly criticized the abrupt closure of Torkham border crossing as tensions are soaring amidst a streak of accusations and counter-accusations between Pakistani and Taliban governments. This is as fierce clashes along the border last week has sparked concerns of significant economic losses for businesses operating in the region.
The Torkham border crossing, a bustling trade route, was abruptly shut down on Wednesday due to escalating confrontations between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces, as reported by local officials.
Expressing their discontent, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban administration stated, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan deems the closure of Torkham gate and opening of fire on Afghan security forces by the Pakistani side contrary to good neighborliness.”
According to the statement, the incident was triggered when Pakistani security forces fired upon Afghan Taliban forces while they were engaged in repairing an old security outpost near the border. As of now, there has been no immediate response from Pakistan’s foreign office regarding these allegations.
It is noteworthy that earlier this week, the Pakistani government urged the Taliban government to respect Pakistan’s territorial integrity and ensure that Afghan territory is not exploited as a base for launching terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
In response, a spokesperson stated, “The statement of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes as a surprise as the Interim Afghan authorities know fully well the reasons for the temporary closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham.”
Pakistan has firmly stated its objection to the construction of any structures by the Interim Afghan Government within its territory, considering it a violation of its sovereignty. Furthermore, it was reported that on September 6th, Afghan troops engaged in indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistani military posts, damaging infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and endangering the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians. These actions have led to the current standstill, with hundreds of trucks carrying goods stranded and traders reporting significant disruptions in trade.
In conclusion, the closure of the Torkham border crossing has raised concerns about its adverse impact on bilateral and regional trade, as well as potential financial losses for merchants on both sides. Additionally, the plight of numerous travelers stranded on either side of the border adds to the growing challenges posed by this development.
