Gunfire and shelling echoed across the Torkham border crossing on Friday as fresh clashes erupted between Pakistani forces and Taliban security personnel, intensifying tensions at one of the region’s busiest and most sensitive frontiers.
The violence began around 9:30am with incoming shelling reportedly fired from the Afghan side, followed by a series of cross-border exchanges. Eyewitnesses said Afghan reinforcements were seen heading toward the border, while journalists were swiftly ushered away by security officials as the situation escalated.
The renewed fighting comes just days after Pakistan declared “open war” against Taliban authorities, following a string of deadly border confrontations. Pakistan has since confirmed conducting air strikes on Kabul and Kandahar, further raising the stakes.
Civilians caught in the crossfire
The Omari camp—home to Afghans returning from Pakistan—was hit overnight, sparking panic among residents. At a hospital in Jalalabad, injured civilians, including women and children, were treated for wounds sustained when a mortar shell struck the camp.
“Children, women, and old people were running,” recounted 65-year-old returnee Gander Khan. Another returnee, Zarghon, said the chaos left several children missing as families fled in fear, leaving behind their belongings and documents.
Despite the clashes, the Torkham crossing has remained open for Afghans returning to their homeland, even as most of the border has been closed since a previous round of fighting in October.
Calls for mediation
As tensions mount, Iran has stepped in to offer mediation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran stands ready to “facilitate dialogue” and help ease the crisis between the two neighbors.
This latest round of hostilities follows a retaliatory offensive launched by Afghan forces late Thursday, after Pakistani air strikes earlier in the week left several dead.
The escalation marks one of the most serious flare-ups along the volatile Afghanistan–Pakistan border in recent months, raising fears of further instability and hardship for civilians caught in the middle.
