A heavy exchange of fire erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the early hours of Monday, with sources confirming multiple casualties among both military and civilian populations. The violence, concentrated near the Torkham crossing, has placed British forces stationed in the region on high alert, according to documents obtained by this newsroom.
The skirmish began around 3 a.m. local time when Pakistani troops reportedly targeted suspected militant hideouts on Afghan soil. Afghan border forces retaliated with mortar fire, triggering a chain of clashes that lasted over four hours. A local tribal elder, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the scene as "chaos. The ground shook. We heard women and children screaming."
British military officials, embedded with NATO advisory units in Kabul, have confirmed that all non-essential personnel have been moved to secure locations. A defence source stressed that no UK troops were involved in the fighting. "We are monitoring the situation closely. Our priority is the safety of our people," the source said.
This escalation comes amid a broader deterioration of relations between Islamabad and Kabul. The Taliban-led Afghan government has accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty by conducting cross-border operations. Pakistan, in turn, blames the Taliban for harbouring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups that launch attacks on its soil.
Uncovered documents from a regional intelligence assessment indicate that the TTP has been regrouping in eastern Afghanistan with alleged support from elements within the Afghan security apparatus. The assessment warns that the current border crisis could be exploited by these groups to further destabilise the region.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of Daesh Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), which has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in both countries. A former Pakistani diplomat, now a scholar at a London think tank, noted that "the border is a pressure cooker. Both sides are armed to the teeth, and there is no dialogue. This is a recipe for disaster."
Local hospitals are overwhelmed. A doctor at a clinic in the Pakistani town of Landi Kotal told this reporter that they have received at least 15 wounded, including two children. "We don't have enough beds. We are running out of blood supplies," he said.
The British government has yet to issue a formal statement, but a Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that the UK is "in contact with both governments" and urged "restraint on all sides." However, given the UK's diminished influence in the region since the withdrawal from Afghanistan, it remains to be seen if London's calls will have any effect.
The timing of this eruption is particularly troubling. It comes weeks ahead of a scheduled review of the UK's counter-terrorism commitments in South Asia. Sources suggest that the Ministry of Defence is already reassessing the threat level to British interests in the region.
I have covered conflicts in this part of the world for nearly two decades. What I witnessed today is not just a border skirmish. It is the sound of a region fraying. And when the thread snaps, the bodies will not all be local. The generals in London know this. They just don't want to say it out loud.
This is a developing story. I will be following the money and the blood. Keep your eyes on Torkham. It is not a crossing. It is a wound.
