Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan Chief Executive, announced on Monday that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the Torkham border. As reported by Tolo TV, the dispute will be addressed through diplomatic channels.
Dr. Abdullah confirmed the recent border clash with Pakistan resulted in one Afghan soldier’s death and six wounded. Pakistan also suffered casualties. The conflict arose when Afghan forces prevented Pakistan from constructing new installations at the border, leading to gunfire from Pakistan.
Despite Kabul’s efforts to diplomatically resolve the issue, Dr. Abdullah noted Pakistan’s non-compliance with the mutual agreement between the two nations.
The exchange of fire occurred late Sunday, triggered by Pakistan’s construction of a gate on its side of the border. This gate was intended to regulate movement and curb terrorist activities. In response to Afghan forces’ shelling, Pakistani security forces retaliated effectively, as stated by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Public Relations.
Torkham, a major crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, is known for its use by militants. The recent skirmishes followed Pakistan’s implementation of stricter border control, requiring Afghans to possess travel documents to enter Pakistan. This new system aims to restrict illegal and unchecked cross-border movement, a shift from the previous lenient border monitoring practices.
