Cross-Border Clash at Torkham Border Results in Civilian Casualties

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A violent exchange of gunfire between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces near the Torkham border crossing has resulted in the deaths of a woman and two children on the Afghan side, officials reported on Tuesday. The Torkham crossing, a crucial trade route located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has been closed following the incident, disrupting the movement of goods and people between the two nations. Local officials have not reported any casualties on the Pakistani side. The clash, which occurred on Monday, has sparked accusations from Afghan officials, with Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, alleging that Pakistani forces targeted civilians. He claimed that the Pakistani military opened fire on Afghan forces in the Ghorki area, prompting a retaliatory response. Qani further stated that Afghan forces managed to destroy two Pakistani border posts during the confrontation. In the aftermath of the violence, thousands of residents near the Torkham border have evacuated to safer areas. Pakistani authorities reported that trucks carrying perishable goods, including fruits and vegetables, are stranded on both sides of the border, awaiting the reopening of the crossing. Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the relationship between the two countries has been strained, with Pakistan yet to recognize the Taliban government. The international community remains cautious regarding the Taliban's governance, particularly concerning their treatment of women and minorities.