Warning Shots Fired at Torkham as Afghan Forces Resume Border Post Work
Pakistani border security forces fired warning shots on Friday evening after Afghan border forces restarted construction of a disputed security checkpost on their side of the Torkham border.
Officials at Torkham said it was the second time during the current week that Afghan authorities had violated a mutual agreement under which neither side builds a new post, constructs a building, or repairs an older one within a 100-metre radius of the border.
Tensions gripped the border area after the shots were fired. Residents stayed inside their homes as Pakistani forces also issued verbal messages to the Afghan authorities.
Torkham border standoff follows October 19 incident
The fresh flare-up echoes an incident just days earlier. An armed clash was averted on October 19 when Afghan authorities abandoned construction work on the controversial Zangali checkpost after Pakistan expressed strong resentment over the activity.
That episode had immediate consequences beyond the border line: repatriation of undocumented Afghans was temporarily suspended on October 19, and the immigration and customs offices were closed for some hours. Returns resumed only after Afghan authorities stopped the construction work.
Officials insisted the warning shots on Friday were fired only after verbal messages asking the Afghan side to stop the work drew no positive response.
Pakistan’s stated position
Officials said Pakistan had always tried to resolve border issues with Afghanistan through negotiations, but would not compromise on its principled stand on border security.
The recurrence, twice in one week, suggests the 100-metre understanding is under strain, with each side testing the other’s response at the Zero Point.
Why it matters
Torkham is the busiest crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, handling trade as well as the ongoing repatriation flow. Any disruption there ripples quickly: the October 19 suspension showed how a checkpost dispute can halt the return of undocumented Afghans within hours.
The timing is notable. A joint IOM-UNHCR report released this week recorded 517 Afghan arrests in Pakistan during October 11–17 and nearly 3,900 returns through Torkham, Chaman and Bahramcha — a flow that depends on the crossing staying open and calm.
What happens next
Whether the Afghan side halts work again, as it did on October 19, will determine if this remains a warning-shots incident or escalates. Past pattern suggests back-channel contact follows quickly when trade and repatriation are at stake.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Torkham on Friday?
Pakistani forces fired warning shots after Afghan border forces resumed construction of a disputed checkpost near the Zero Point, the second violation of a mutual 100-metre agreement this week.
What happened on October 19?
An armed clash was averted when Afghan authorities abandoned work on the Zangali checkpost; repatriation of undocumented Afghans was briefly suspended and immigration offices closed.
Why does the Torkham crossing matter?
It is the busiest Pakistan-Afghanistan crossing, handling bilateral trade and the large-scale repatriation of undocumented Afghans.
How many times was the border agreement violated this week?
Twice, according to officials at Torkham. Friday’s resumption of checkpost work was the second violation of the mutual 100-metre agreement during the current week.
