Pakistan has closed several key border crossings with Afghanistan following an overnight clash between Pakistani and Afghan forces, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The confrontation began late Saturday night when Afghan troops reportedly fired at Pakistani border posts.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense stated that the attack was in retaliation for a Pakistani airstrike inside Afghanistan earlier last week.
Pakistan, however, claimed it responded with artillery and heavy weapons, reportedly destroying several Afghan border outposts.
According to Pakistani security sources, the exchange of fire continued intermittently in the Kurram region even after the main clash subsided early Sunday morning.
As a precaution, Pakistan has closed its two major border crossings with Afghanistan—Torkham and Chaman—as well as three smaller crossings: Kharlochi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan. Local authorities and residents reported that sporadic gunfire continued in some areas.
The Afghan government has not immediately commented on the border closure. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Sunday that there is currently no security threat anywhere in Afghanistan.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border stretches approximately 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles). Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration of sheltering anti-Pakistan militants who allegedly carry out attacks in Pakistan with Indian support. Kabul has denied these allegations.
Regarding the recent airstrike in Kabul, Islamabad has not officially confirmed it, though Pakistani security officials stated that a strike targeted a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader on Thursday. His status remains unclear. The TTP seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish an Islamist regime and has maintained close ties with the Afghan Taliban for years.
