VANCOUVER, CANADA – According to local sources in Paktia, the Taliban and Pakistani border forces engaged in another clash, marking the second such incident in the past three days in Paktia province.
The skirmish took place in the Spin Shagi area of Aryub Zazi district today, May 1 and was sparked by disagreements over the establishment of a border checkpoint.
According to local sources, the Pakistani border guards sought to set up a checkpoint in the border areas, which prompted the Taliban to open fire in opposition. The Pakistani side responded with more gunfire.
Two days ago, the Taliban border guards had another clash with the Pakistani forces in the same area. The encounter lasted for several years but it did not leave any casualties behind.
Neither Taliban nor Pakistani authorities have issued statements regarding the incidents, leaving details about potential casualties and damages undisclosed.
In another development, the Torkham border crossing in Nanagarhar province is reportedly closed. Abdul Jabbar Hakimi, the Taliban commissioner in Torkham, said that Pakistan has shut down the crossing to patients and travellers for three days.
The closure, however, scheduled from Friday, May 17, until Monday, May 20, excludes freight traffic and commercial activities, which will continue uninterrupted.
Hakimi attributed the closure to Pakistan’s relocation of border offices from old premises to new facilities.It is not clear whether the skirmish in Paktia had also any impact on the border closure in Torkham.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, their border forces have clashed repeatedly with Pakistani forces, resulting in periodic closures of border crossings between the two countries.
On July 31, 2022, reports from Dand Patan district, Paktia province, detailed a deadly incident where Pakistani soldiers fired on Afghan passengers near the Durand Line, resulting in casualties.
Similarly, clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani soldiers were reported on November 15, 2022, in the same area. On November 13, 2022, the two sides exchanged fire in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, resulting in fatalities on both sides.
Subsequently, Pakistan demanded the handover of the alleged Taliban member responsible for the attack as a precondition for the reopening of the Spin Boldak border crossing.
The Taliban refused to comply.
