Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Crisis: Crossings Closed Following Heavy Military Clashes

Trucks remain parked at a crossing point following Pakistan's decision to close its border with Afghanistan.

Major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan were shut down on Sunday after intense overnight clashes erupted. The conflict followed allegations from the Taliban that Pakistan had conducted air strikes earlier in the week, according to officials.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained tense since the Taliban reclaimed power in Kabul in 2021. Pakistan accuses Afghan authorities of harboring militants who conduct attacks on Pakistani territory, claims that Afghanistan consistently denies.

Taliban forces engaged Pakistani soldiers along the shared border on Saturday night, claiming that Islamabad had violated Afghanistan's sovereignty after explosions were heard in Kabul and southeastern regions two days prior.

Officials from both countries confirmed to AFP that the border crossings at Torkham, connecting Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan's Nangarhar, and Chaman, located over 800 kilometers to the southwest, were closed.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif condemned what he described as "provocations by Afghanistan" along the border area. "There will be no compromise on Pakistan's defense, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response," Sharif stated, accusing Taliban authorities of allowing "terrorist elements" to use Afghan territory.

A senior Pakistani official at Torkham informed AFP that additional paramilitary troops had been deployed to the area, which lies on the border between Kabul and Islamabad. "The Torkham border has been completely closed for pedestrian movement and trade," said the official, speaking anonymously due to lack of media authorization.

"Security forces have also evacuated all civilian staff posted at the border to prevent harm in case of further firing," the official added.

Another Pakistani border official at Chaman, which connects Balochistan province with Kandahar, confirmed that the crossing was "sealed."

Pakistani officials reported clashes involving heavy weapons in at least four border districts, though they claimed no casualties on their side.

The Afghan military announced Saturday night that Taliban forces were engaged "in heavy clashes against Pakistani security forces in various areas." Taliban defense ministry spokesman Enayat Khowarazm later told AFP that the "successful" operations had concluded at midnight.

Border security officials confirmed to AFP that no further clashes had been reported by Sunday morning.

Militancy has increased significantly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since US-led troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban government returned to power.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is separate from the Afghan Taliban but shares the same ideology and receives combat training in Afghanistan, is accused by Islamabad of killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021.

Pakistan has not confirmed responsibility for Thursday's strikes that triggered the border clashes.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have urged both sides to "exercise restraint."

TTP militants have recently intensified their violent campaign against Pakistani security forces in the mountainous border regions with Afghanistan.

More than 500 people, including 311 troops and 73 policemen, have been killed in attacks between January and September 15, according to a military spokesman's statement on Friday.

A UN report this year indicated that the TTP "receive substantial logistical and operational support from the de facto authorities," referring to the Taliban government in Kabul.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told parliament on Thursday that multiple efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting the TTP had failed. "Enough is enough," he declared. "The Pakistani government and army's patience has run out."