Tension may shoot up as Pakistan closes Afghanistan border

Tension is building up along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border after a suicide attack on a Pakistan army convoy on Saturday left many soldiers dead. The development threatens to snowball into a diplomatic crisis. A statement from the Pakistani army said a convoy was attacked in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district near the Afghan border.

The Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan has been closed after the attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district and skirmishes in the province, a senior Pakistani security official said.

The crossing, located in Khost province, is a critical trade and transit point between the two countries, particularly for goods moving to and from Pakistan's North Waziristan region.


Abidullah Farooqi, spokesperson for the Afghan government's Border Forces, confirmed the closure, stating that Pakistani authorities have not provided an explanation for the move.

According to sources, no timeline has been provided for the reopening of the border. Afghan authorities have urged citizens, traders and travellers to avoid the route and use other crossings, such as Torkham or Spin Boldak until the situation is resolved.

Earlier this year, at least one person was killed in firing between Pak and Afghan security forces at the main border crossing between the two countries. In the past, both countries have closed Torkham and the southwestern Chaman border crossings after deadly shootings.