Pakistan Accuses Afghanistan Of Unprovoked Firing, Leading To Key Border Crossing Closure

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of engaging in "unprovoked and indiscriminate" firing, resulting in the closure of the vital Torkham border crossing. This critical point of transit connecting Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan was shut down after security forces from both nations exchanged fire, causing a backlog of vehicles loaded with goods and individuals seeking to cross the border. The ongoing dispute revolves around the construction initiated by the Taliban government along the border, which Pakistan views as a violation of its sovereignty.

In a statement released on Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch asserted Pakistan's opposition to any construction by the interim Afghan government within its territory. The spokesperson highlighted that on September 6, instead of pursuing a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistani military posts, and damaging infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal. This action jeopardized the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians when they attempted to erect unauthorized structures, PTI reported.

Baloch emphasized that such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances. Moreover, this firing only serves to embolden terrorist elements that have established sanctuaries within Afghanistan, as confirmed by the UN Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report.

The ongoing disputes related to the 2,600 km border have been a source of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan for decades, resulting in the periodic closure of the Torkham crossing, as seen in February when thousands of trucks laden with goods were stranded on either side of the border.