🚧 Pakistan has temporarily closed key border crossings with Afghanistan after a series of cross-border gun and artillery exchanges. Here is the quick lowdown 📋:
Late Saturday, Afghan troops opened fire on Pakistani border posts, saying they were responding to earlier airstrikes in Afghanistan that the Taliban administration blames on Islamabad. Pakistan hit back with gun and artillery fire, reportedly destroying several Afghan outposts.
By Sunday morning, most of the skirmishes had subsided, though locals in Kurram district heard intermittent gunfire.
Major crossings at Torkham and Chaman are now off-limits, and three smaller points at Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan are also shut, cutting off a route used by traders and travelers alike.
The Taliban administration's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Sunday that there is "no threat in any part of Afghanistan's territory." Kabul has not yet commented on the border closures.
Why this matters: Afghanistan shares a 2,600-kilometer land boundary with Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the Taliban administration of sheltering militants who target Pakistani soil, a claim Kabul denies. Earlier air strikes aimed at the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader in Kabul added fuel to the fire. The TTP is a militant group fighting to overthrow Islamabad's gov and set up a strict Islamic system, with close ties to the Afghan Taliban.
What's next? 🚨 Border closures can disrupt trade, travel, and local economies on both sides. Stay tuned as we track any new developments and how this will impact people living in the border regions.
Reference(s):
Pakistan closes border with Afghanistan following exchanges of fire
cgtn.com
