At the Torkham border, a fight broke out between Afghan security forces and FC agents who were attempting to prevent the smuggling of sugar.
An FC official reportedly was hurt during the fight and was taken to the hospital.
According to the sources, the disagreement between the FC and Afghan forces stemmed from the free movement of local laborers.
At the border, FC agents intercepted a group of Afghan children being forced into labor.
Afghan workers were smuggling sugar, according to the sources.
The Afghan forces were furious that FC agents had prevented them from crossing the border.
A fight broke out as a result.
The incident caused the temporary closure of the Torkham border crossing.
But eventually, the border was opened back up, and trade could resume as usual.
The border crossing was accessible to pedestrians.
In response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recognition of the resulting fake shortage and price spike, Customs Balochistan began an anti-smuggling and anti-hoarding operation in April of this year.
There was a rapid increase in the open market price of sugar from Rs95 per kg to Rs130 per kg.
Traders and clients in Afghanistan blamed the widespread smuggling of sugar for this.
Unconfirmed videos of trucks in Balochistan’s Kharan district allegedly carrying sugar and fertilizers went viral, prompting the federal government to urge a crackdown on sugar smugglers.
