Pakistan seals Afghan border crossings amid clashes – DW – 10/12/2025
After a night of intense cross-border exchanges, Pakistan has shut down several key checkpoints along its frontier with Afghanistan. The move came in response to reported Afghan fire on Pakistani military posts, which Islamabad claims was retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes targeting militant figures. Pakistan says it retaliated with artillery, destroying multiple Afghan positions. Official casualty figures are sharply contested: Pakistan reports 23 soldiers killed; Afghan sources claim as many as 58. Border crossings including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda and Ghulam Khan have been blocked, halting civilian and trade movement. Although most of the fighting eased by morning, intermittent gunfire continues in volatile border zones. Each side blames the other for destabilizing actions, while regional actors call for restraint and dialogue to avoid further escalation.
The Key points
- Pakistan closed major and minor crossings along its 2,600 km border with Afghanistan.
- The shutdown follows overnight clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces.
- Islamabad claims the hostilities started after Afghan troops fired on Pakistani posts.
- Pakistan asserts its response destroyed several Afghan positions.
- Islamabad reports 23 soldiers killed; Afghanistan claims 58 Pakistani losses.
- Taliban authorities deny harboring militants but criticize Pakistani strikes.
- Conflict disrupted trade and civilian transit across border points.
- Skirmishes mostly subsided by morning, though shooting lingers in some zones.
- Both governments accuse the other of violating sovereignty.
- Regional powers are urging calm and diplomatic engagement to defuse tensions.
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