Ashrafuddin Pirzada
TORKHAM: Sporadic clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards continue near the Torkham crossing, local sources said.
According to sources, both sides have used heavy weapons, causing fear and panic among residents in the area. Several rockets and shells reportedly hit residential homes near the conflict zone, resulting in property damage.
The fighting erupted around 2:30 a.m. Kabul time on Monday, March 3, and has continued intermittently.
Meanwhile, residents of Bacha Mena village on the Pakistan side of the border were forced to vacate their homes due to the fear of continuous firing.
Efforts to defuse the crisis through diplomatic talks have failed, leaving the situation tense with no clear resolution in sight. Hundreds of trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables suffered millions of rupees in losses as all consignments mostly perished while waiting at the border for around two weeks.
Officials and traders said Torkham is the busiest trade route, facilitating over $1.6 million in imports and $1.4 million in exports daily with Afghanistan and Central Asian republics. Immigration officials noted that approximately 10,000 passengers cross the Torkham border every day.
Customs Association Torkham President Mujeeb Khan Shinwari urged both nations to resolve the issue through diplomatic dialogue. He stressed that uninterrupted trade with Afghanistan via Torkham could play a vital role in boosting the national economy.
Thousands of stranded passengers, including women and children, expressed disappointment over the armed clashes between border forces. Many emphasized that people on both sides of the border share familial ties, religion and culture, making the ongoing hostility even more distressing.
The prolonged border closure has also severely impacted the livelihoods of local laborers and transporters, who rely on daily cross-border trade for income. Many truck drivers, unable to complete their deliveries, have run out of food and fuel, leaving them stranded with no means to return home.
Additionally, medical emergencies have become a growing concern, as patients who regularly travel to Peshawar for treatment remain stuck on the Afghan side. Several Afghan citizens, including critically ill individuals, have pleaded with authorities to allow medical crossings, but no exemptions have been granted yet.
On Sunday, Taliban representatives and Pakistani officials held a meeting to resolve the dispute, but the negotiations ended without a breakthrough.
