Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been shut for all kinds of movement on Thursday until further order over latest wave of violence being handled from elements in Afghanistan.
Inter-Service Public Relations of Pakistan Army reported that the border was shut with ‘immediate effects’ due to security reasons. The action has come in after seven terror attacks hit multiple cities across Pakistan in last five days.
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After Lahore was targeted on Monday, attacks in Quetta, Peshawar and Sehwan Sharif of Sindh followed this week. Chief Traffic Officer and Senior Superintendent of Police lost their lives among 14 persons in suicide blast outside Punjab Assembly whereas a van of judicial staff was targeted in Peshawar’s Hayatabad claiming a life.
Jamaatul Ahrar, splinter group of banned Tehrik-i-Taliban claimed responsibility of Mall Road attack and alleged social media page of the outfit claimed to carry out more attacks in latest series of offensive.
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Torkham border was last closed in 2016 after Afghan troops resorted to unprovoked fire. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz had then asserted that the porous border would be well-managed with effective policies and no Afghanistan national would be allowed to enter Pakistan without proper documentation.
Aziz’s statement had come in as thousands of Pakistanis residing in areas situated along the border travel to Afghanistan everyday for business and vice versa.
Mullah Akhtar Mansour, former leader of banned TTP was revealed to have obtained a Computerized National Identity Card, claiming to be a Chaman local, further proving loopholes in Pakistan’s registration and management systems.
