��������

PESHAWAR: The closure of border crossings for bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan extended into a second day after deadly weekend clashes between the countries spiked tensions and hundreds of people were stranded Monday, officials said.

The fighting began Saturday night, when Afghan forces struck multiple Pakistani military posts. Afghanistan officials claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in response to what they said were repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace.

Pakistan’s military gave lower figures, saying it lost 23 soldiers and killed more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” during retaliatory fire along the border. Foreign governments, including ��������, urged restraint. A ceasefire appeared to be holding.

Authorities said no new exchange of fire had been reported since Sunday along the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) long border known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never recognized.

It was not clear when the border might reopen.

Though the southwestern Chaman border crossing was closed for trade, authorities briefly allowed about 1,500 Afghan nationals stranded there since Sunday to return home on foot, government officer Imtiaz Ali said.

A key northwestern crossing in Torkham, Pakistan, remained closed Monday to all travel and trade. The closure was confirmed by Mujib Ullah, a representative for local traders.

Afghan refugees, including many who were waiting to leave Pakistan because of a crackdown on foreigners living in the country illegally, said they had been waiting at the Torkham crossing since Sunday.

Gul Rahman, a refugee, said he waited through Sunday at Torkham before returning with his family to the northwestern city of Peshawar.

“Hundreds of other people like me have moved to nearby areas or coming back to Peshawar,” he said, adding that he will wait there for Torkham to reopen.

Tensions have been high since last week when Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in the Afghan capital Kabul and in a market in eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan did not claim responsibility.

Pakistan’s government in Islamabad has previously launched strikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it says are militant hideouts. The countries have skirmished along the border in the past, but the latest fighting has been the deadliest so far and underscored their deepening hostility.

Pakistan has long accused Kabul of sheltering members of the banned Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which Islamabad blames for deadly attacks inside the country. Kabul denies the allegation, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other nations.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan inaugurated its national pavilion at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai on Monday, featuring ten leading startups and over twenty established tech firms as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s presence in the global digital economy.

The Pakistan Pavilion, launched by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, will serve as a hub for business networking, investor meetings, and technology showcases. The initiative, led by the IT ministry in partnership with national tech organizations, aims to attract international partnerships and investment into Pakistan’s growing IT sector.

“Pakistan’s presence at GITEX Global reflects our confidence, our capability, and our commitment to a digitally empowered future under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vision of Digital Nation Pakistan,” Khawaja was quoted as saying in a statement by the IT ministry. 

“With a young, skilled workforce and an expanding base of IT exports, Pakistan is ready to play a central role in shaping the global tech economy. The Pakistan Pavilion represents not just our innovation but our invitation to the world to partner in growth.”

The ministry said it is facilitating the participation of ten promising startups at GITEX — one of the world’s largest technology exhibitions — to help showcase local innovation and connect entrepreneurs with global investors. The effort is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to expand its startup ecosystem and boost IT exports, which crossed $3.76 billion in the last fiscal year.

Pakistan’s delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of IT and Telecom, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Ignite – National Technology Fund, and the National Information Technology Board (NITB). These government-backed organizations oversee technology policy, startup incubation and digital transformation projects across the country.

Officials said Pakistan’s growing presence at GITEX follows its recognition as “Tech Destination of the Year” in 2024, adding that the 2025 pavilion signals the country’s continued focus on innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and digital partnerships with the Gulf region and beyond.