Afghanistan-Pakistan border shooting
A Taliban security member stands guard as young Afghan boys help elderly men in wheelchairs, after a shooting incident between Afghan and Pakistani border forces near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan , in Nangarhar province on February 20, 2023. © AFP - SHAFIULLAH KAKAR
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The tension escalated on Monday morning February 20 on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan when exchanges of fire broke out between border forces on one of the busiest crossing points between the two countries.
The shooting occurred after Taliban authorities decided to close the Torkham border crossing.
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The already tense relations between the two neighbors have been marked in recent years by multiple scuffles along the border, called the Durand line, an open wound at the heart of Afghan-Pakistani tensions.
The incident that set fire to the powder occurred on Sunday late afternoon.
Unable to provide documents requested by the Pakistani authorities, the companion of an Afghan patient was reportedly turned away.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of having fired first, resulting in a response from its armed forces.
Afghanistan refers the accusations to its eastern neighbor.
The Torkham border post, located equidistant from the capitals of the two countries, is an important commercial crossing point through which transits, among other things, coal on the Pakistani side and food aid on the Afghan side.
Since the return of the Taliban in August 2021, Pakistan has been affected by a dramatic increase in violence, particularly in the border regions of Afghanistan.
The two countries accuse each other of encouraging terrorism.
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To read also:
Karachi: "The Pakistani Taliban are attacking the police first"
Taliban regime accuses Pakistan of letting US drones use its airspace
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