In a shocking escalation of cross-border tensions, Pakistani artillery shells rained down on the bustling Torkham border town in Afghanistan early Sunday morning, igniting a massive fire that gutted over 150 shops in a key commercial market. Local officials confirmed the devastating strike hit around 4 AM local time, sending flames racing through the crowded trading hub that serves as a vital lifeline for commerce between the two nations.
Torkham Mayor Mawlawi Abdullah Mustafa detailed how the barrage targeted the city side, with shells slamming into the market area and sparking an inferno that required heroic efforts from firefighters, municipal water tankers, and local residents to contain. Four fire trucks were deployed in a frantic bid to save what remained, but the damage was catastrophic.
Market owners estimate losses at approximately $300 million, a staggering blow to Afghanistan’s fragile economy. This busy border crossing facilitates the flow of goods and people, making it indispensable for regional trade. The attack has amplified fears over the safety of residential zones nearby, with traders and residents demanding urgent fortifications.
This incident follows a pattern of deadly skirmishes. Just days earlier, Afghan forces claimed to have eliminated 30 Pakistani soldiers in clashes along the Durand Line, seizing and demolishing several military outposts in Kandahar and Paktia provinces. Taliban defense officials reported overrunning positions in Shorabak district and beyond, retaliating against alleged Pakistani incursions.
The cycle of violence traces back to late February, when Afghan troops launched counterstrikes on Pakistani bases after an airstrike purportedly targeting militants in Afghan territory. Pakistan responded with ‘Operation Ghaib Lil-Haq,’ vowing to counter unprovoked Afghan fire. As accusations fly from both sides, the fragile peace along this volatile frontier hangs by a thread, threatening livelihoods and stability for thousands.