Border Shutdown Persists Amid Rising Tensions
Border crossings for trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain closed into a second day following deadly clashes over the weekend. The volatile environment has left hundreds stranded as officials struggle to manage the fallout along the disputed Durand Line—a border Afghanistan has long refused to recognize.
Afghan refugees wait alongside vehicles carrying their belongings at a border camp in Chaman, Pakistan.
Plumes of smoke rise from a hillside near the border after overnight shelling in the region of Khost, Afghanistan.
Afghan servicemen maintain a vigilant presence along the border following clashes with Pakistani forces.
Clashes and Conflicting Claims
The recent violence erupted on Saturday night when Afghan forces attacked several Pakistani military posts. Afghan officials asserted that the assault resulted in the loss of 58 Pakistani soldiers, alleging repeated incursions into Afghan territory and airspace. In contrast, Pakistani military sources reported losing 23 soldiers while claiming they had eliminated over 200 militants associated with Taliban-linked groups. The divergent accounts highlight the deep-seated discord between the two nations.
Despite an apparent ceasefire holding since Sunday—with no further exchanges of fire reported—the border remains closed, disrupting both trade and travel.
Impact on Border Crossings and Refugees
At the southwestern Chaman crossing, although trade has been halted, authorities briefly allowed about 1,500 Afghan nationals who had been stranded since Sunday to return home on foot. Meanwhile, the key northwestern crossing at Torkham in Pakistan continues to be sealed to all travel and commerce. Local traders confirm that this critical point of transition remains inaccessible.
Among those affected, several refugees—many of whom were already under pressure due to a crackdown on undocumented foreigners in Pakistan—described waiting at the Torkham crossing since Sunday. One refugee explained that he had spent the previous day at the site before returning with his family to the northwestern city of Peshawar and noted that many others have either relocated to nearby regions or also returned to Peshawar until the situation is resolved.
Broader Regional Tensions
The border crisis comes against a backdrop of escalating hostility between the neighboring countries. Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities recently accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in the Afghan capital and in an eastern marketplace—claims that Pakistan has not acknowledged. Islamabad has, in prior incidents, conducted strikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it deems militant hideouts, further inflaming long-standing disputes over alleged support for banned militant groups. For its part, Kabul denies allowing its territory to serve as a launch pad for activities against other nations.
As the situation remains fluid, the timing for reopening the border continues to be unclear, leaving the region’s trade and travel in a state of uncertainty.
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