10-day standoff at Torkham border intensifies as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchange fire

Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged gunfire at the strategic Torkham border crossing Sunday night after 10 days of unsuccessful negotiations to reopen the crossing, wounding three Pakistani Frontier Corps personnel and reportedly causing higher casualties among Afghan troops.

The conflict erupted when Pakistani security forces opened fire to halt Afghanistan's construction of a controversial checkpoint—described by Pakistan as a "bunker"—located within 500 meters of the border, despite repeated Pakistani objections.

"Afghan forces are building a bunker within 500 meters of the border, a development Pakistan finds unacceptable due to security concerns, as such a post poses a direct threat to its security," a Pakistani security official told Nuktaon condition of anonymity.

According to Pakistani security sources, the gunfire lasted three hours Sunday night before resuming intermittently Monday morning. The official said Pakistani authorities had conducted four rounds of negotiations with their Afghan counterparts, who had promised to halt construction but repeatedly reneged on their commitments.

Stranded travelers suffer

The Torkham border—a key transit point for trade and travel—has remained closed for 10 days amid the ongoing standoff, disrupting cross-border movement and further straining relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Ghulam, an Afghan truck driver, told Nukta that he and several others had been stranded in Khyber district for days, hoping the route would reopen. However, with no sign of progress, they had now decided to return via the Chaman border in Balochistan. "We are facing immense hardship. Both governments should resolve the issue and reopen the crossing," he urged.

File: Transport trucks at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border. AFP

Ghani, another Afghan driver, said he had lost hope in this border crossing after enduring 10 nights under the open sky. "There has been gunfire at the border, continuous rain here, and no food available for suhoor or iftar. I can't take it anymore—I'm heading back through the Ghulam Khan border in North Waziristan," he said.

Kabul silent on disputed bunker

In a video statement, Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Afghan Commissioner for Torkham Border, confirmed that negotiations were held with the Pakistani side to discuss the reopening of the crossing, emphasizing the need for it to remain operational round the clock. "We have conveyed our position to senior officials, as we believe the border should not be closed in the future, as it causes hardships for everyone," he added.

However, Afghan officials did not address questions regarding the construction of the disputed bunker. Previously, the Afghan commissioner had stated, "We do not object to any Pakistani post or bunker, so why does Pakistan oppose a checkpoint within Afghanistan?"

A Pakistani security official, responding to Afghanistan's stance, stated that while Pakistan does not intend to close the border, it will not permit the construction of a bunker within 500 meters of the zero point under any circumstances. "The border will be reopened once Afghanistan halts construction," the official added.

CM-consul talks

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met with the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, to discuss the closure of the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham. The meeting addressed the difficulties faced by traders and the public, with both sides agreeing to work towards reopening the border swiftly.

Gandapur stated that keeping the border closed is not in the interest of people on either side, emphasizing the need for an immediate resolution. "We are making efforts from our side to reopen the border, and the Afghan embassy should also play its role in this regard," he added.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Khan reaffirmed last Tuesday Pakistan's commitment to resolving the Torkham border dispute through dialogue, stating, "We have urged Afghan authorities to address border issues through established bilateral mechanisms rather than unilateral construction."