Intense border clashes erupted between Afghan and Pakistani forces on 12 October, with Afghanistan’s interim government claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed while Pakistan’s government claiming 200 Afghan Taliban and allied fighters were killed. The conflict, reportedly involving cross-border shelling, occurred near the Torkham border crossing, a crucial trade and transit point. Following the exchange of fire, Pakistan immediately shut down the Torkham crossing, halting commercial and civilian traffic. This closure severely disrupts bilateral trade, regional supply chains, and humanitarian aid flows into Afghanistan, heightening security risks and diplomatic tensions.