PESHAWAR, July 2: Afghan government troops replaced the guards belonging to various warring factions and the Taliban at the Torkham border, and made tight arrangements around the gate on Monday.

Sources told Dawn that the defence ministry had appointed Gen Syed Agha commander of the Afghan forces at the Torkham checkpoint. The fresh contingents were dressed in US commandos uniform, said a witness.

According to an official: “For the first time the government forces have resumed their duties at the Pakistan-Afghan border”.

The outgoing armed men were sent to Landi Khyber near Jalalabad. The batch was reluctant to leave Torkham, but the Kabul pulled them back, sources said.