Border Conflict Escalates: Civilian Casualties and Trade Disruptions in Pakistani-Afghan Tensions

Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces engaged in cross-border fire at the Torkham crossing, resulting in the deaths of a woman and two children on the Afghan side. The skirmish caused significant disruptions in trade and movement between the two nations. Both sides have previously closed key border crossings during conflicts.

Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces exchanged cross-border fire near the crucial Torkham crossing, resulting in the deaths of a woman and two children on the Afghan side, according to officials on Tuesday.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on the Pakistani side. The Torkham border, located in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was shut down, disrupting trade and the movement of people between the two countries, as confirmed by local Pakistani official Zahid Khan.

The origin of the attack was unclear, though such clashes are frequent along the Afghan-Pakistan border, with both nations having previously closed Torkham and the Chaman crossing in southwestern Pakistan for various reasons. In Kabul, Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani accused Pakistani forces of targeting civilians and claimed Afghan forces responded, destroying two Pakistani border posts.

(With inputs from agencies.)