KHYBER: Artillery shells fired from the Afghan side of the border caused temporary closure of Torkham border late on Thursday.

A statement issued by the local security establishment said that at least 11 rounds of artillery were fired from across the border with three of the shells landing near the Ghurakai checkpost on the Afghan side.

Eight more rounds of artillery were fired later, but landed in deserted places and could not cause any loss or damage.

The statement said that no retaliation was carried out from Pakistan side.

The artillery attack caused fear and panic among the local residents while cross-border vehicular traffic too was suspended for some time.

The border forces, however, later allowed the vehicles to cross the border from both sides with situation returning to normal.

It could not be immediately ascertained why artillery shells were fired at the Pakistan side.

Meanwhile, residents in Bacha Maina residential compound, close to Torkham border, vacated their houses and shifted to safer locations in Landi Kotal.

Sabir Khan, an area resident, told Dawn that they sent their family members, mostly children and women, to homes of relatives and friends in Landi Kotal after the first round of artillery was fired.

He said that they heard the sound of loud explosions minutes before evening prayers and then started evacuating their families.

“We left only one or two men at every house for security and evacuated all other family members,” he said, adding that the residents feared that the artillery or shells might hit their houses.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2020