Border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remained closed for a second day Monday following deadly weekend clashes that heightened tensions and left hundreds stranded, officials said.
The fighting erupted Saturday night when Afghan forces attacked multiple Pakistani military posts, claiming to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace. Pakistan reported lower losses, saying 23 soldiers were killed while more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” were killed during retaliatory strikes. Foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, called for restraint, and a ceasefire appeared to be holding.
No new exchanges of fire were reported along the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) Durand Line since Sunday. Authorities have not announced when the border might reopen.
While the southwestern Chaman crossing remained closed for trade, about 1,500 Afghan nationals stranded there were allowed to return home on foot. The key northwestern Torkham crossing stayed closed to all travel and trade, affecting Afghan refugees and traders. Many stranded refugees returned to Peshawar, waiting for the crossing to reopen.
Tensions have escalated after Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghan markets last week, which Islamabad did not claim. Both countries have a history of cross-border skirmishes, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants, an allegation denied by Afghanistan.