Overnight clashes between Pakistani and Afghan security forces at the main border crossing led to widespread panic and forced around 15,000 local residents to flee their homes.
The incidents, which began on Monday—the first working day of Ramadan when food imports typically surge—resulted in Afghan border guards opening fire without warning, targeting both government buildings and civilians.
Local residents have been affected significantly by the border disruptions. “The tensions between the two countries and the continuous closure of the border have been causing multiple problems to the people of the border area,” said Ali Shinwari, a resident of the affected town. In response, relatives and tribesmen in nearby communities have taken in dozens of displaced individuals, providing temporary shelter.
The Torkham crossing, a crucial transit point for travelers and goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been closed since February 21 due to a dispute over the construction of a border-area outpost by Afghanistan. This closure has had a substantial impact on trade, with Pakistan’s foreign office reporting that bilateral trade was worth over $1.6 billion in 2024. The shutdown has also stranded approximately 5,000 trucks carrying essential goods, resulting in estimated losses of at least $15 million, according to Yousaf Afridi, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries for Pakistan's Khyber district.
Both sides have reported casualties, with the Taliban-run Afghan Interior Ministry stating that one Taliban fighter was killed and two injured, while Pakistani security officials confirmed that their forces had also sustained injuries during the clashes. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to respond to requests for comment.
While the situation has calmed by Tuesday morning, the ongoing closure and intermittent clashes continue to disrupt daily life and trade in the region, highlighting the persistent challenges along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the “unbreakable friendship” between China and Pakistan as he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday, a day after companies from both countries signed cooperation agreements worth $1.22 billion.
An explosion on a railway track in Pakistan's Quetta killed at least 24 people, news outlet Al Arabiya reported on Sunday, citing officials.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in China on May 23rd for a four-day state visit that comes at a particularly consequential moment for Beijing, for Islamabad, and for a region being reshaped by the ongoing war between the United States and Iran.
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Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
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