Torkham remains closed; Pakistan insists on stopping the construction of border checkpoints

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan has not yet been opened despite an agreement between traders and tribal leaders of the two countries.

 

Media quoted sources as saying that according to yesterday's agreement, the Torkham border gate was supposed to be opened to all types of traffic today (Tuesday, March 28), but it remains closed.

 

According to sources, although businessmen and tribal leaders from both sides have agreed to open the border, no agreement has been reached between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani officials at the highest level.

 

Pakistan is said to have made it a condition for the reopening of Torkham to stop the construction of checkpoints and border facilities by the Islamic Emirate and not to attack each other. Meanwhile, Islamic Emirate officials say the checkpoint was built inside Afghanistan.

 

The Nangarhar police chief also issued a statement saying that no final decision had been made on the reopening of Torkham and urged people to refrain from coming to Torkham until the border is reopened.

 

Afghan and Pakistani businessmen agreed to open Torkham to all types of traffic at a meeting of elders on both sides of the border yesterday. The Torkham border crossing has been closed for nearly a month due to differences between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan over the construction of security checkpoints.

 

The closure of the crossing is said to have caused millions of dollars in damage to Afghan and Pakistani traders. Hundreds of patients, women and children are also stranded on both sides.