The primary border crossing connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan faced closure on Wednesday due to an exchange of fire between security forces from both nations, as reported by Pakistani security sources. Local residents in the vicinity of the Torkham crossing, situated near the bustling border area close to the Khyber Pass, were startled by the sound of gunfire and subsequently fled the area when the firing commenced.
Security officials in the region, speaking under conditions of anonymity, disclosed that the confrontation involved both Taliban and Pakistani forces but had not resulted in any casualties thus far. Despite the situation, no immediate response to the incident was received from a spokesperson for the local government in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, where the crossing is situated, nor from a spokeswoman for Pakistan's foreign office.
For decades, disputes pertaining to the 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) border have remained a persistent source of tension between these neighboring countries. The Torkham border point serves as the primary transit hub for travelers and the movement of goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan. This crossing has faced repeated closures in recent years, with a notable closure in February that left thousands of trucks loaded with goods stranded on either side of the border for several days.