Border Remains Closed After Deadly Clashes
Trade at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has remained suspended for a third consecutive day as Pakistan closed all crossings along the 2,600-kilometre frontier. The closure follows deadly weekend clashes that claimed the lives of 23 Pakistani soldiers and left over 200 Taliban fighters dead, including members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistani security forces are currently on high alert. A senior official confirmed, “All entry points have remained closed since Saturday after unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban forces.” Although there were brief small arms exchanges on Sunday night, officials reported that the overall situation is calm.
The Torkham border remains completely shut to both trade and pedestrian movement. Government offices managing cross-border trade and administration are also closed. According to Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi, the border situation is “normal,” but he did not provide further details.
Goods Delayed, Traders and Refugees Suffer Losses
Thousands of cargo trucks and containers are stranded on both sides of the border, causing millions of rupees in trade losses. According to Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, many of the vehicles are loaded with fresh produce, food items, and transit goods.
“Trade has come to a halt, and this is impacting businesses on both sides,” Sarhadi stated. Afghanistan, being landlocked and heavily reliant on Pakistani imports, is especially vulnerable to such disruptions.
In Afghanistan, border police spokesperson Abidullah Uqab confirmed that no crossings are open, either for vehicles or people. Although the Chaman border allowed about 1,500 Afghan nationals to return home on foot, the Torkham crossing remains completely sealed.
Among those affected are Afghan refugees waiting to return home amid Pakistan’s crackdown on undocumented foreigners. One such refugee, Gul Rahman, said he had waited all day at the border on Sunday before giving up and returning to Peshawar with his family.
Local trader representative Mujib Ullah confirmed the continued closure of Torkham, further deepening uncertainty for traders, transporters, and refugees.
There is no official timeline for the reopening of the border.
