By Sajid Khan

PESHAWAR — The Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan were shut down on early Sunday following intense overnight clashes between Afghan Taliban border forces and Pakistani troops, marking a major escalation in tensions between the two neighbors.

According to Quraishi Badloon, head of information at the Nangarhar Department of Information and Culture, the border points have closed since last night, according to Tolo News.

Pakistani officials confirmed the closure of both crossings, saying the decision was taken due to “security concerns” after Afghan Taliban forces launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani border posts in multiple sectors late Saturday.

The attacks reportedly took place just hours after Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Indian Foreign Minister and senior defense officials in New Delhi, a meeting that has drawn attention amid rising suspicions of growing coordination between Kabul and New Delhi.

Sources in Pakistan’s security establishment said the Afghan attacks were carried out using heavy weapons along border regions near Chaman, Kurram, Bajaur, and Nushki, resulting in a strong retaliatory response from the Pakistan Army. “Pakistan’s forces responded immediately and effectively, inflicting major losses on Taliban fighters and foreign militants present at their posts,” a senior security official said.

Following the clashes, Pakistani authorities closed Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings for both pedestrian movement and trade vehicles, diverting all traffic to Landi Kotal. “All vehicles have been moved from Torkham to Landi Kotal, and the border remains closed since last night,” an official in Khyber district confirmed.

The closure has caused severe disruptions in cross-border trade and travel. Hundreds of passengers, dozens of cargo trucks, and patients seeking medical treatment are stranded on both sides of the border, facing serious hardship due to the suspension of movement.

The escalation follows months of rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government over cross-border militancy, the presence of anti-Pakistan groups inside Afghanistan, and repeated incidents of border skirmishes. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused Kabul of failing to prevent terrorist infiltration from Afghan territory, while the Taliban regime has accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through artillery strikes and air operations.

The timing of the latest confrontation — immediately after Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India — has deepened Islamabad’s concerns. Pakistani analysts describe the clashes as a “dangerous development” that could signal an emerging axis between Afghan and Indian security interests aimed at pressuring Pakistan.

As of Sunday evening, both border crossings remain closed, with no immediate sign of reopening. The Pakistan Army continues to maintain a high state of alert along the western frontier

Regional observers warn that the confrontation could further strain already fragile ties between Islamabad and Kabul, potentially affecting bilateral trade, refugee movements, and broader regional stability.