Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Overnight clashes between Pakistani and Afghan security forces at the Torkham border crossing, the main transit point between the two countries, forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, though the situation had calmed by Tuesday morning, according to local officials and residents. The violence erupted on Monday, the first working day of Ramadan, a period when food imports from Pakistan to Afghanistan typically surge.
The clashes began when Afghan border guards reportedly opened fire without warning, targeting government buildings and civilians, causing widespread panic. Around 15,000 residents fled to the nearby town of Landi Kotal for safety, an official said. The Torkham crossing has been closed since February 21 due to a dispute over Afghanistan’s construction of a border outpost, Pakistani officials revealed on condition of anonymity.
The Taliban-run Afghan Interior Ministry confirmed that one Taliban fighter was killed and two others injured in the clashes, while Pakistani security officials reported injuries among their forces as well. The Torkham crossing is a critical artery for travelers and trade between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan, with bilateral trade valued at over $1.6 billion in 2024, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
The border closure has stranded 5,000 trucks carrying essential goods, causing estimated losses of at least $15 million, said Yousaf Afridi, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries for Pakistan’s Khyber district, where Torkham is located. Local residents, many of whom rely on border-related businesses for their livelihoods, expressed frustration over the prolonged closure and its economic impact.
“The tensions between the two countries and the continuous closure of the border have caused multiple problems for the people of the border area. People are very poor and dependent on their businesses related to the border,” said Ali Shinwari, a resident of the border town. He added that relatives and tribesmen in nearby areas have been hosting dozens of displaced families since the border closure.
As the situation stabilizes, concerns remain over the economic and humanitarian consequences of the border dispute, particularly during Ramadan, when the demand for food and essential goods is high. Both sides have yet to issue official statements on resolving the conflict, leaving thousands of residents and traders in limbo.
