Torkham Border Crossing Reopened After a Month

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The Torkham border crossing, which had been closed for a month due to border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, was reopened to the traffic of cargo vehicles and patients on Wednesday, March 19. This action was taken after a meeting between officials from the two countries and an agreement to resolve border disputes. Officials from the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan announced that the crossing will soon be opened to passengers.

 

After the reopening, videos were published on social media showing cargo trucks from both sides of the border quickly entering Afghan and Pakistani territory. The images suggest that bilateral trade has revived after a month-long hiatus.

 

The spokesman for the Nangarhar governor announced that the Torkham crossing would be fully open to passengers, patients and transit by Friday. He added that the Pakistani side was preparing its systems to facilitate passenger traffic.

 

It is worth noting that the Torkham crossing was closed on 3rd of February due to a dispute over the construction of a border post by the Islamic Emirate. This action caused severe tensions between the two sides and even led to border clashes on the night of Friday, 3rd of February. In that clash, border forces from the two countries clashed over the installation of a signpost and the construction of a post.

 

Previously, two jirgas were held between local authorities of the two countries to reopen the crossing, but due to the lack of agreement of the Islamic Emirate on the suspension of border construction, these jirgas did not reach any conclusions.

 

Pakistan's closure of the Torkham border crossing for a month, in addition to stranding thousands of travelers on both sides of the border, has also caused heavy economic losses to traders from both countries. Pakistani officials have announced that the closure has cost the country's national treasury about $72 million. On the other hand, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce has also announced that Afghan traders have lost about $66 million during this period.

 

Pakistani customs officials have announced that the crossing facilitates trade worth approximately $3 million daily and that about 10,000 people travel through it. Pakistani media have reported that a joint meeting between representatives of Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate will soon be held to facilitate transit through the crossing.