Pakistan has shut down a key crossing on its border with Afghanistan due to the "construction of trenches" near the frontier, leading to the suspension of cross-border movement, a Pakistani police official confirmed on Sunday.
The Torkham border crossing was closed late on Friday night after Afghan Taliban authorities began "construction of trenches and other development work" along the border, according to Naheed Khan, a senior police official in Pakistan’s Khyber district, which borders Afghanistan.
As a result of the closure, movement of pedestrians and trade between the two countries has been halted, although no skirmishes have been reported between the two sides.
“The Torkham crossing has been closed for both pedestrians and heavy vehicles since midnight on February 21. There have been no reports of firing from either side,” Khan said.
“Some families from Bacha Mina, a village near the border on the Pakistani side, have moved to safer locations to avoid any potential risks. Additionally, some loaded trucks have returned to Jamrud Bazaar.”
The Afghan side has not yet commented on the closure of this vital border crossing.
This development comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, partly due to a rise in militant attacks in Pakistan's western provinces, which border Afghanistan.
Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan of harboring and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials, however, deny these claims, stating that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter.
In the past, border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces have led to the closure of key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, disrupting trade and halting the movement of people between the two countries.
In August, the Torkham border was closed for three days after Afghan authorities announced they were investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly violating Afghan airspace in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
Tensions flared again in December following reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged militant camps in Afghanistan, with Afghan officials claiming the strikes resulted in civilian casualties.