Sources have confirmed to Afghanistan International that at least one civilian has been killed in clashes between Pakistani border forces and the Taliban at the Torkham crossing.
According to reports, two security personnel and one Pakistani civilian were also injured during the confrontation.
Local sources reported on Sunday evening that heavy fighting erupted between the two sides. A video of the incident shows intense exchanges of fire, though the exact cause of the clash remains unclear.
The confrontation occurred just after the Torkham border had been closed for nine days. Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, stated that the closure was due to the Taliban’s attempt to construct a checkpoint inside Pakistani territory—an action he described as a violation of existing protocols.
He emphasised that Pakistan seeks to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Pakistani media reports indicate that multiple rounds of negotiations have taken place between Taliban and Pakistani border forces to reopen the crossing, but so far, discussions have been unsuccessful.
The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that seven individuals in Kabul, Takhar, and Nangarhar have been publicly flogged for alleged offences, including “extramarital relations, selling alcohol, and same-sex relations.”
Each of the convicted individuals has also been sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six months to two years.
In separate statements on Sunday, the Taliban’s judiciary reported that three people in Takhar were punished for extramarital relations, three in Nangarhar for same-sex relations, and one in Kabul for producing and selling alcoholic beverages.
According to the court, the three individuals in Takhar’s Chah Ab district received prison terms of six months to one year. In Nangarhar’s Spin Ghar district, the Taliban’s primary court sentenced three individuals to one to two years in prison. Meanwhile, the individual convicted of producing and selling alcohol in Kabul was given a two-year sentence.
Over the past week, the Taliban has publicly flogged more than 40 people across Afghanistan for various offences, claiming these punishments enforce “Islamic Sharia.” However, international human rights organisations have condemned the Taliban’s judicial process as lacking fairness and due process.
The Daily Mail recently reported that many individuals punished by the Taliban over the past three and a half years may not have committed any crimes at all. The British newspaper highlighted that the Taliban has carried out severe punishments, including public floggings, stonings, executions by firing squad, and crushing individuals under walls.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, has stated that the group operates around 40 political offices in various countries and maintains strong ties with numerous nations, particularly its neighbours.
He also accused the United States and some European countries of retaining a “mentality of war.”
In an interview aired on Sunday by the Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), Mujahid addressed the group’s relations with the West, acknowledging the challenges posed by past conflicts and what he described as the “occupation of Afghanistan” by Western nations.
“It is not easy to convince them, but negotiations are ongoing. Meetings have been held, and Taliban diplomacy is expanding day by day,” Mujahid stated.
The Taliban spokesperson emphasised that the group seeks international relations based on Islamic Sharia and mutual respect.
Mujahid also claimed that the U.S. and certain Western countries are unwilling to engage with the Taliban unless they change their perspective and acknowledge the problems they have created.
He reassured Western nations that Afghan soil would not be used against them and that the security of embassies and diplomatic missions would be ensured. “We want to establish official relations, which would build confidence,” he added.
According to Mujahid, the Taliban has repeatedly urged the U.S. and European nations to reopen their embassies in Afghanistan and allow the group to establish diplomatic missions in their countries. He asserted that European nations are interested in formal relations with the Taliban but remain restricted by “certain sensitivities and agreements with the U.S.”
“European countries look to the U.S. when deciding on relations with us,” he said, further claiming that some nations are already engaging with the Taliban unofficially but have yet to make their ties public.
During the interview, Mujahid also responded to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Taliban’s control of U.S. military equipment and claims of a Chinese military presence at Bagram Airbase.
Dismissing Trump’s comments as “emotional,” Mujahid insisted that the military equipment in the Taliban’s possession was captured as “war spoils.”
He also denied Trump’s assertion that Chinese forces were stationed at Bagram, stating, “Not a single armed Chinese individual is present in Afghanistan. Bagram is fully under Taliban control.”
“Trump is a leader of a country like the U.S., and his statements should be more precise,” Mujahid added.
Mujahid also addressed the issue of military helicopters that Afghan government forces flew to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan following the Taliban’s takeover. He reiterated the group’s demand for their return.
He suggested that the U.S. might be pressuring Uzbekistan to retain the aircraft but insisted, “These helicopters belong to Afghanistan, and we still demand their return.”
Following the fall of the previous Afghan government on 15 August 2021, officials from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan confirmed that 22 military planes and 24 helicopters had entered their airspace.
The Taliban has repeatedly asserted its ownership of these aircraft. Last year, Taliban Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid declared that they would never allow Afghanistan’s northern neighbours to seize or use them.
On Saturday, Whitney Wright, an American adult film star, shared new photos from her visit to various Afghan cities. In one image, she is seen holding an AK-47 rifle, suggesting that she is travelling under Taliban security.
Earlier, Wright posted a video from Band-e Amir, Afghanistan’s national park, despite the Taliban banning Afghan women from entering the site a year and a half ago. At the time, Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated that women were prohibited from visiting the area, asserting that “tourism is neither obligatory nor necessary” for them.
Under Taliban-imposed restrictions, Afghan women are not permitted to travel more than 72 kilometres alone without a male guardian. The group has also barred women from entering parks, restaurants, and gyms.
On Friday, Wright shared images from Kabul and Herat on her social media accounts, showcasing various locations in both cities. Her posts included photos of an Ariana Airlines aircraft, the tiled ceiling of a shrine in Herat, a shop, and rickshaws on a street, although she was not visible in any of these pictures.
Afghanistan International reached out to Wright regarding the timing and purpose of her visit but has not yet received a response. The Taliban have also not commented on her presence in Afghanistan.
Wright is known as a vocal supporter of Palestine and frequently posts in solidarity with Palestinians.
Despite their harsh restrictions on Afghan women, the Taliban have facilitated travel for both male and female foreign tourists, seemingly to project a “positive image” of their rule to the world.
Civil society activists have condemned the Taliban’s double standards, highlighting the stark contrast between their oppressive measures against Afghan women and their hospitality towards foreign female visitors.
Last year, a 29-year-old Brazilian traveller who visited Taliban-controlled Afghanistan stated that while she disagreed with the Taliban’s ideology, she faced no issues despite travelling alone—likely due to her status as a foreigner.
Previously, photos of Taliban members posing affectionately with Chinese female tourists also sparked widespread controversy.
The Torkham border crossing has remained closed for nine consecutive days, with Pakistani authorities yet to provide a timeline for its reopening.
Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, previously stated that the closure was triggered by the Taliban’s attempt to construct a checkpoint on Pakistani territory.
According to the Associated Press, over 5,000 trucks carrying perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables remain stranded, awaiting the resumption of cross-border movement. Meanwhile, Taliban trade officials in Nangarhar province have reported that the closure is causing daily losses of approximately $500,000 to Afghanistan’s private sector.
Torkham, a crucial trade route between Afghanistan and Pakistan, was shut down after Pakistani authorities raised objections to the Taliban’s construction of a new checkpoint. The blockade has reportedly resulted in financial losses exceeding $12 million for Afghan traders.
During a press briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Shafqat Ali Khan stated that Pakistan had communicated its concerns to Taliban officials and urged them to resolve the matter through diplomatic negotiations.
Official sources confirm that discussions are ongoing, but there is still no indication of when the border will reopen.
The Taliban Supreme Court in Kabul has announced that three individuals have been publicly flogged on charges of buying, selling, and consuming alcohol.
According to a statement released by the court on Saturday, the individuals received between 10 and 39 lashes. Additionally, two of the accused were sentenced to two years of imprisonment, while the third received a two-month prison sentence.
This latest punishment is part of a series of public penalties imposed by the Taliban over the past month. Reports indicate that at least 42 individuals across Afghanistan have been publicly punished for various alleged offences during this period.
The Taliban claims that such punishments are in accordance with “Islamic Sharia law.” However, international organisations argue that trials under Taliban rule lack transparency and fail to meet the standards of due process.
Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s severe punishments, including flogging, stoning, and executions, warning that these practices could target individuals who may not have committed any crime.