Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Pakistan has raised concerns over the Taliban administration’s construction of what it deems an ‘unlawful structure’ within its borders, a recent spike in escalated tensions between the two neighboring nations. Pakistan is also accusing Taliban border forces of engaging in “indiscriminate firing” which caused the main border transit point, the Torkham border crossing, to be closed since last Wednesday, causing significant disruptions.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, has said the border closure was directly linked to the construction of an unlawful structure by the Taliban-led administration within Pakistani territory, a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Baloch stated, “On the 6th of September, instead of seeking a peaceful resolution, Taliban troops resorted to indiscriminate firing. They targeted Pakistan military posts, caused damage to the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and put the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk when they were prevented from erecting such unlawful structures.”
This border dispute highlights the longstanding tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan regarding their shared 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) border. Pakistan’s foreign office emphasized its ongoing concerns about the rise in militant attacks and urged the Taliban authorities to take measures to prevent their territory from being used as a base for militant activities against other nations. This situation continues to be a source of contention between the two neighboring countries.
The closure of the Torkham border crossing stems from a clash between forces from both sides, which resulted in the stranding of numerous trucks carrying goods and thousands of travelers. The Taliban administration’s foreign ministry has criticized the border’s closure, contending that Pakistan’s security forces fired upon their troops while they were engaged in repairing an old security outpost near the border.
