Clashes Between Pakistani Forces & Taliban In Torkham Displace Thousands
Ongoing clashes between Pakistani security forces and Taliban fighters at the Torkham border crossing have displaced thousands of local residents, officials and locals report.
Ongoing clashes between Pakistani security forces and Taliban fighters at the Torkham border crossing have displaced thousands of local residents, officials and locals report.
A Pakistani official stated that approximately 15,000 people have fled their homes and taken refuge in the city of Landi Kotal.
According to sources, Taliban border guards opened fire without prior warning, targeting government buildings and civilians, triggering widespread panic.
Impact on Local Communities
Ali Shinwari, a Pakistani resident, told Reuters “The tensions between the two countries and the continuous closure of the border have created multiple problems for people in the border area. Many are poor and rely on border-related businesses.”
He added that since the Torkham crossing’s closure, tribal families in a nearby city have been hosting dozens of their displaced relatives.
Border Closure and Casualties
Pakistani officials, speaking anonymously, stated that the Torkham border crossing has been closed since 21 February due to a dispute over the Taliban’s construction of a new checkpoint.
On Monday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior announced that one of their fighters had been killed and two others injured. Pakistani security officials confirmed that one of their soldiers had also been wounded.
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday that at least six security personnel and two civilians had been injured. Additionally, one civilian reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack amid gunfire and the ensuing chaos.
Trade Disruptions and Economic Losses
Torkham is the main transit route for passengers and goods between landlocked Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade between the two countries exceeded $1.6 billion in 2024.
Yousaf Afridi, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Torkham is located, stated that the closure of the crossing has stranded 5,000 trucks carrying essential goods, causing at least $15 million in losses.
