Pakistani border forces fired warning shots on Friday evening after Afghan border forces restarted construction of a disputed security checkpost on their side of the Torkham border in Khyber, officials said. The development is the latest in Pakistan Afghanistan border news today, and it has raised tensions in the area.
Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long border, known as the Durand Line, which Pakistan treats as its international boundary. Afghanistan has long disputed that boundary, and the two sides have repeatedly clashed over posts and construction close to it.
What officials said
Officials at Torkham said this was the second time during the current week that Afghan authorities had violated a mutual agreement not to build a new post, or repair an older one, within 100 metres of the border. They said an armed clash was avoided on October 19, when Afghan authorities abandoned construction of the controversial Zangali checkpost after Pakistan expressed strong resentment over the activity.
Officials insisted that the warning shots were fired only after verbal messages asking Afghan authorities to stop illegal activity near the Zero Point did not get a positive response. They said Pakistan has always tried to resolve border issues through negotiations, but will not compromise on its principled stand on border security.
The officials' account does not make clear whether the post under construction on Friday is the same Zangali checkpost that was abandoned on October 19.
Impact on crossings and residents
Tensions gripped the border area, and residents stayed inside their homes after the warning shots were fired. The disruption also reached administrative work at the crossing: repatriation of undocumented Afghans was temporarily suspended on October 19, and immigration and customs offices were closed for some hours.
The returns resumed after Afghan authorities stopped the construction work, officials said. For now, the main development in Pakistan Afghanistan border news today is the renewed dispute over the post, and the officials' statements point to talks as the preferred route, while Pakistan keeps its position on security.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier this week: Officials at Torkham said Afghan authorities violated the agreement on building near the border for the first time in the week.
- October 19: Afghan authorities abandoned construction of the Zangali checkpost after Pakistan protested, and an armed clash was averted.
- October 19: Repatriation of undocumented Afghans was suspended for a time, and immigration and customs offices closed for some hours.
- Friday evening: Afghan border forces restarted construction of the disputed post, and Pakistani border forces fired warning shots.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aur Afghanistan ki sarhad par Torkham ke qareeb tanao barh gaya hai. Pakistani forces ne warning shots fire kiye jab Afghan side ne vivadit checkpost par kaam dobara shuru kiya. Border ke qareeb rehne walay logon ko kuch der ghar ke andar rehna para. Torkham par aana jaana aur repatriation ka kaam pehle bhi rukk chuka hai, is liye yeh khabar aam logon ke liye ahem hai.
