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Pakistan shuts Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan
Pakistan has closed the Ghulam Khan border crossing in southeastern Afghanistan’s Khost province to all forms of movement, Afghan officials confirmed Sunday, marking the latest in a series of intermittent closures along the volatile border shared by the two countries.
Abidullah Farooqi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Directorate of Border Police, said Pakistani authorities shut the port without providing an official reason. Pakistan authorities reportedly instructed drivers already at the crossing to proceed through alternate checkpoints.
Farooqi added that Afghan officials are currently working to resolve the matter through dialogue.
The Ghulam Khan crossing is one of the three main trade and transit routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, alongside Torkham and Chaman.
Closures at these ports—often abrupt and unannounced—have become increasingly common in recent years, driven by political tensions, security concerns, or disputes over border management and documentation.
In March this year, the Torkham border was closed for several days following clashes between border forces.
In 2023, Islamabad temporarily shut multiple crossings in response to militant attacks, which Pakistani officials alleged were planned from Afghan soil—an accusation Kabul denies.
These closures have frequently disrupted bilateral trade, caused heavy losses to traders, and exacerbated tensions between the two neighbors.
The current closure of Ghulam Khan, a vital commercial artery especially for southeastern provinces, has sparked concern among local traders and transporters who rely on the port for cross-border commerce.
No timeline has been given for when the border will reopen. Afghan authorities say they remain in contact with their Pakistani counterparts in hopes of reaching a resolution soon.
Football fans across Afghanistan can watch Tottenham Hotspur take on Charlton Athletic live on Ariana Television Network (ATN) tonight, Wednesday, August 26, with coverage beginning at 23:15 Kabul time.
The two London clubs meet in the second round of the EFL Cup, with Tottenham looking to progress while Charlton will aim to produce an upset against their Premier League opponents.
Tottenham enter the match as favourites on paper, with their greater top-flight experience expected to make them the stronger side. However, cup football can produce surprises, and Charlton will be looking to take advantage of any opportunity at their disposal.
The match provides Tottenham with another chance to build momentum early in the season, while Charlton will see the tie as an opportunity to test themselves against one of England’s biggest clubs.
The EFL Cup remains an important route to silverware for clubs across the English football pyramid, with teams aiming to advance through each round toward the final at Wembley.
Afghanistan fans can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic live tonight on Ariana Television, from 23:15 Kabul time.
The United Nations has warned that around one million children in Afghanistan are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition and could die without urgent treatment.
UNICEF said on Tuesday that about 3.7 million children across Afghanistan are suffering from wasting, a condition caused by acute malnutrition.
Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, said around one million of these children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which is considered the most dangerous form of acute hunger.
“If there is no treatment and we are not able to act fast, that one million number are at risk of dying,” Oyewale said during a media briefing in Geneva, speaking from Kabul.
He said the nutrition crisis is worsening across the country, with more than 500,000 children requiring hospital care so far this year for moderate and severe wasting.
According to UNICEF, nearly 40 percent of children admitted to hospitals with severe wasting and medical complications are babies younger than six months. Children under the age of two account for more than 80 percent of severe acute malnutrition cases.
Oyewale said malnutrition is playing a major role in the increasing number of deaths among very young children in Afghanistan.
The situation has also placed growing pressure on hospitals. In July last year, around 6,000 severe malnutrition cases were recorded, while the number rose by about one-third to more than 8,000 cases by July this year.
“In parts of southern Afghanistan, some hospitals are now seeing three or four severely malnourished children for every available bed,” Oyewale said.
Kabul Municipality says the districts of Bagrami and Chahar Asyab will be incorporated into Kabul city as part of a broader plan to expand and develop the capital.
Nematullah Barakzai, a Kabul Municipality official, told the BBC that Kabul has experienced significant growth in recent years, both through the expansion of the city’s boundaries and the construction of high-rise buildings.
“Kabul is not only growing vertically, but it has also seen considerable horizontal expansion, which can be observed on Google Maps,” Barakzai said. “Kabul currently has 22 municipal districts, and Bagrami and Chahar Asyab are also expected to be incorporated into the city.”
The municipality has not yet announced a specific timeline for implementing the plan.
Bagrami is located about 15 kilometers from central Kabul, while Chahar Asyab lies south of the capital and serves as one of the main routes connecting Kabul with Afghanistan’s southern provinces.
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