Kabul, Mar 5 (NVI) Heavy cross-border clashes once again erupted today between Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham-Jalalabad sector, even as thousands of people living close to the frontier in Afghanistan have shifted to safer places, according to reports.
Border guards on both sides used heavy weapons and rockets to target each other’s positions, the reports said.
There were reports of injuries to some journalists on the Afghanistan side but confirmation was awaited.
Border forces of the two neighbours have been repeatedly engaging in heavy firing and shelling in the sector for the past few days.
So far, at least 3 Pakistani soldiers and a Taliban fighter have been killed and several injured on the both sides.
According to sources, the clashes started a few days back after Afghan soldiers wanted to set up a post near the Torkham border and the Pakistani side opposed it.
The armed clashes started after 10 days of closure of the Torkham border, the main transit point between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The closure of the border, amidst increasing diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours, has left stranded thousands of goods-laden trucks on both sides of the frontier.
The bilateral trade between the two countries was to the tune of around $1.6 billion in the last calendar year. (NVI)
