According to representatives from the two countries, the main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was blocked on Monday. Locals in the vicinity also reported hearing gunfire close to the usually busy border crossing.
Although it was not immediately obvious who was responsible for closing the Torkham border crossing, which is adjacent to the Khyber Pass, it comes amid a severe deterioration in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban.
According to a media representative for the Taliban government’s police force in the eastern Afghan province of Nangahar, “the border is blocked; we will give more later.” The border was shut down on Sunday night, but no explanation was given in the media.
The main crossing point for people and cargo between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan is at the Torkham border post.