Afghan Sniper Wounds Pakistani Frontier Corps Subedar at Torkham; Border Closed Again

Late on the evening of March 27, at approximately 9:30 PM local time, a Frontier Corps Subedar was shot by a sniper from the Afghan side at the Awal Khan post near Torkham crossing. At least two people on Pakistan's side were injured in the incident. Pakistani local paramilitary forces were placed on high alert. As a direct result of the sniper attack, Pakistani authorities immediately suspended ongoing Afghan deportation operations at Torkham and imposed a curfew in the surrounding areas of Bacha Maina and Machni. The Afghan Taliban government did not immediately claim or comment on the attack. Pakistan's government cited the 'aggressive attitude and behaviour of the Afghan side' and a 'deteriorating security situation' as justification for the suspension. Dawn and The News confirmed the incident based on local Frontier Corps officials.