Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan on Sunday after intense cross-border fire exchanges, escalating tensions between the neighbors. 🔥 Pakistani officials reported Afghan troops opened fire late Saturday, allegedly retaliating against airstrikes earlier in the week that Kabul claims were launched by Islamabad.
What Sparked the Flames?
Pakistan’s security forces responded with artillery, destroying several Afghan border posts. While major clashes subsided by Sunday morning, sporadic gunfire continued in Pakistan’s Kurram region. 🚨 Key crossings like Torkham and Chaman—vital for trade and travel—were shut, along with three smaller ones.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just a border skirmish. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration of sheltering militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group fighting to overthrow Pakistan’s government. 🛡️ The TTP’s alleged ties to the Afghan Taliban add fuel to the fire, with recent airstrikes targeting a TTP leader in Kabul.
Afghan officials denied ongoing threats, with Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stating: "There is no kind of threat in any part of Afghanistan's territory." But with a 2,600-km shared border and deep-seated mistrust, this clash could ripple across South Asia. 🌏💥
