PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir have agreed to work towards reopening the Torkham border, which has remained closed for the past eight days, causing disruptions in trade and travel.
The move comes in light of Ramazan and the upcoming Eid ul Fitr.
“The border must be reopened soon… The Afghan embassy should play its role in this matter,” Gandapur stated during a meeting with the Afghan diplomat in Peshawar.
The closure stemmed from tensions over an Afghan forces’ attempt to construct a bunker near Zero-Point, prompting a response from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC). As a result, cross-border movement has been suspended, affecting thousands of people and halting bilateral trade.
Both sides have reinforced their military positions, leading to concerns over a potential armed clash. In response, Pakistani authorities have relocated customs, immigration, and police officials from Torkham Bazaar to Landikotal as a precautionary measure.
According to Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the border closure has left 2,500 goods-laden trucks stranded on the Pakistani side, with a similar number stuck in Afghanistan. The disruption has severely impacted local traders and daily wage earners.
During the meeting, CM Gandapur and the Afghan envoy also discussed issues related to bilateral trade and the challenges faced by Afghan citizens residing in KP.
Gandapur emphasised that regional peace is in the best interest of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, noting that the KP government has formed a jirga to negotiate with Afghan authorities. However, he stated that the provincial government is awaiting federal approval for the jirga’s Terms of Reference (ToR).
Furthermore, discussions are underway with international organisations to provide health and education cards for Afghan citizens in KP.
Read also: Torkham border shutdown causes $10 million trade loss, Khyber Chamber
