Taliban-Pakistan Tensions Rise as Torkham Border Crossing Closes

The recent closure of the Torkham border crossing by the Taliban has sparked tensions between the group and Pakistan, prompting questions about the nature of their relationship. Although the Taliban have now reopened the crossing, the events leading up to its reopening have raised concerns. The group exchanged fire with Pakistani forces on the border the day after the crossing was closed, and accused Islamabad of violating an agreement regarding patient treatment, ultimately closing the crossing gate to traffic.

The Border Closure

On Sunday, February 19th, the Afghan Commissioner for the Torkham border crossing, Mohammad Sadegh Khaled, announced that the crossing had been closed on orders from officials in Kabul. The decision came after complaints were made that Pakistan was not keeping its promises. Pakistani authorities had refused to allow travelers to enter under a new procedure requiring specific documents from medical patients' companions.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Taliban's foreign ministry, criticized statements made by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Germany, where he referred to terrorist groups active in Afghanistan. Balkhi advised Pakistan to discuss bilateral issues with the Afghan government instead of complaining at international conferences.

On the other hand, Sadiqullah Qurashi, Director of the Media Department in Nangarhar Province, Eastern Afghanistan, confirmed that Afghan and Pakistani authorities were in contact to resolve the Torkham border crossing problem between the two countries. He explained that the Afghan authorities had closed the crossing near Khyber Pass to travelers and goods, noting that the Pakistani side had not kept its promises to facilitate crossings for patients and travelers.

The Afghan government, controlled by the Taliban, announced after the situation had calmed between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, February 22nd, that Kabul posed no new danger or threat against any country, particularly neighboring Pakistan. Despite this statement, concerns remain about the stability of the relationship between the two sides.

Efforts to calm tensions

Hozifa Fareed, the strategic analyst and researcher on Pakistani affairs, emphasizes that since the Afghan movement took power, Pakistan has witnessed a steady increase in violence, particularly in areas along the border with Afghanistan.

In exclusive statements to "The Reference", he pointed out that both sides, particularly the Afghans, should communicate to try to find a solution to the current crisis regarding the closure of the border crossing and border issues between the two countries, which have been a source of dispute for decades and extend over 2600 kilometers.

The Pakistani researcher explained that despite years of relative calm in Pakistan, attacks have returned, especially by the "Pakistan Taliban" movement and the so-called "Khorasan ISIS" organization along the border. He stressed the need for relations to return to normal to stop terrorist bloodshed, noting that Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and the head of the Pakistani intelligence agency, General Nadeem Anjum, have arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to meet with the Taliban government Taliban-Pakistan Tensions Rise as Torkham Border Crossing Closes

Wr. By: Mostafa Mohamed, Tr.: Ahmed Seif EL-Din

The recent closure of the Torkham border crossing by the Taliban has sparked tensions between the group and Pakistan, prompting questions about the nature of their relationship. Although the Taliban have now reopened the crossing, the events leading up to its reopening have raised concerns. The group exchanged fire with Pakistani forces on the border the day after the crossing was closed, and accused Islamabad of violating an agreement regarding patient treatment, ultimately closing the crossing gate to traffic.

The Border Closure

On Sunday, February 19th, the Afghan Commissioner for the Torkham border crossing, Mohammad Sadegh Khaled, announced that the crossing had been closed on orders from officials in Kabul. The decision came after complaints were made that Pakistan was not keeping its promises. Pakistani authorities had refused to allow travelers to enter under a new procedure requiring specific documents from medical patients' companions.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Taliban's foreign ministry, criticized statements made by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Germany, where he referred to terrorist groups active in Afghanistan. Balkhi advised Pakistan to discuss bilateral issues with the Afghan government instead of complaining at international conferences.

On the other hand, Sadiqullah Qurashi, Director of the Media Department in Nangarhar Province, Eastern Afghanistan, confirmed that Afghan and Pakistani authorities were in contact to resolve the Torkham border crossing problem between the two countries. He explained that the Afghan authorities had closed the crossing near Khyber Pass to travelers and goods, noting that the Pakistani side had not kept its promises to facilitate crossings for patients and travelers.

The Afghan government, controlled by the Taliban, announced after the situation had calmed between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, February 22nd, that Kabul posed no new danger or threat against any country, particularly neighboring Pakistan. Despite this statement, concerns remain about the stability of the relationship between the two sides.

Efforts to calm tensions

Hozifa Fareed, the strategic analyst and researcher on Pakistani affairs, emphasizes that since the Afghan movement took power, Pakistan has witnessed a steady increase in violence, particularly in areas along the border with Afghanistan.

In exclusive statements to "The Reference", he pointed out that both sides, particularly the Afghans, should communicate to try to find a solution to the current crisis regarding the closure of the border crossing and border issues between the two countries, which have been a source of dispute for decades and extend over 2600 kilometers.

The Pakistani researcher explained that despite years of relative calm in Pakistan, attacks have returned, especially by the "Pakistan Taliban" movement and the so-called "Khorasan ISIS" organization along the border. He stressed the need for relations to return to normal to stop terrorist bloodshed, noting that Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and the head of the Pakistani intelligence agency, General Nadeem Anjum, have arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to meet with the Taliban government leadership to calm the situation between the two neighbors and restore relations to their normal state.leadership to calm the situation between the two neighbors and restore relations to their normal state.