Pakistani and Afghan border forces exchanged fire at several points along the frontier on Sunday, shutting the busy Torkham crossing for nearly five hours, while tension persisted around Angoor Adda in Lower South Waziristan.
According to sources, the firing at Torkham began when Afghan authorities resumed construction on the disputed Zangali check post, which lies within 100 metres of the border on the Afghan side. The two countries had earlier agreed not to build security structures inside that radius. The exchange of light-arms fire lasted about an hour and caused panic among returning Afghans and local residents. No casualties were reported on the Pakistani side.
Crossing reopened through intermediaries
The crossing reopened after border officials from both sides agreed, through intermediaries, to halt all construction near the frontier.
In Angoor Adda, the deputy commissioner of Lower South Waziristan said Afghan border posts kept up unprovoked fire on Pakistani checkpoints, and that Pakistani forces responded by targeting multiple Afghan border posts, mortar positions and defensive installations. He said Afghan Taliban personnel abandoned their posts and that no casualties had been reported in Pakistani border areas.
Sources said Pakistani forces again hit Afghan Taliban posts with artillery and heavy weapons on Monday, claiming, on the basis of intelligence reports, that several Afghan fighters were killed. No independent or credible information on casualties or damage has emerged, and the Afghan Taliban did not immediately respond to the claims.
Background
The latest clashes come days after shelling hit homes and the Angoor Adda bazaar on the night of October 27, killing one civilian and wounding five; Afghanistan's defence ministry denied the allegation. Pakistan's military spokesman has warned that the Afghan Taliban would not be able to bear the cost if terrorism from Afghan soil continued, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington shares Pakistan's concerns and is open to helping ease tensions.