27 Aug 2021 | 11:59 AM UTC
Pakistan: Security personnel reportedly fire on civilians at Torkham border crossing Aug. 27
Security forces reportedly open fire on civilians at Pakistan's Torkham border crossing Aug. 27. Casualties reported.
Event
According to initial reports, Pakistani security forces opened fire on Afghan civilians at the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Aug. 27. Details of the incident remain unclear, and it is possible the incident occurred due to security concerns amid an influx of refugees seeking to enter Pakistan. Accounts suggest that security personnel killed as many as six people and injured two others, though the casualty count could be higher. The status of the Torkham border crossing is uncertain, but officials have been limiting entry from Afghanistan to manage the inflow of people.
Authorities will probably increase security, including setting up roadblocks and stationing additional personnel, around the checkpoint. Transport and business disruptions are possible, and businesses that transport goods through the checkpoint may face shipping delays.
The affected area is around 47 km (29 miles) west-northwest of Peshawar, Pakistan, and 69 km (43 miles) east-southeast of Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Advice
Follow all official instructions. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Plan for transport disruptions and possible ground shipping delays; seek alternative routes and shipping methods for time-sensitive cargo.
