Sources have confirmed to Afghanistan International that Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards clashed once again on Wednesday, 5 March, at Torkham. Neither Pakistani nor Taliban officials have yet commented on the incident.
Images from the clash show both sides targeting one another’s positions. Reports indicate that Taliban forces have destroyed a Pakistani military outpost, further escalating tensions in the region. Videos circulating on social media reveal Taliban forces employing heavy artillery to attack Pakistani military posts.
Following the closure of the Torkham border crossing on 22 February, clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani soldiers have recurred, with both sides utilising heavy weaponry. A spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Interior confirmed that one of their fighters was killed and two others injured during the recent clashes.
The Torkham crossing has now been closed for 13 consecutive days, with reports stating that thousands of trucks carrying goods and fresh produce are stranded on both sides of the border. Despite several rounds of talks between officials from both sides aimed at ending the fighting and reopening Torkham, negotiations have so far been unsuccessful.
