KHYBER: The Torkham border crossing, a key transit point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has remained closed for all types of traffic for the 22nd consecutive day.
Yesterday, a Pakistani jirga had addressed concerns of the Afghan jirga to resume talks over the Torkham border closure. The talks had broken down on Thursday after the Afghan delegation walked out from the talks.
After consulting officials in Kabul and Jalalabad, the Afghan jirga, led by Afghan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Younus Mohmand, returned to Torkham for a decisive round of talks. The meeting aimed to finalise steps for reopening the border and settling the territorial dispute.
However, the Afghan delegation objected to Pakistan expanding its jirga without prior consultation. They waited for two hours but left without holding talks.
Pakistani jirga chief and Federation of Chambers of Commerce adviser Sayed Jawad Hussain Kazmi admitted expanding its jirga numbers without communicating. He assured that unrelated members were removed, and the jirga now consists of 50 members.
Both countries formed jirgas four days ago, including tribal elders, businessmen, and officials. Their goal is to resolve the border closure, which has been in effect since February 21.
Pakistani authorities have cited the construction of new facilities and checkpoints by the Taliban near the border as the reason for the closure.
Pakistan and Afghanistan forces have also traded firing for three days and used light and heavy weaponry. According to reports, eight Pakistani soldiers have been injured while three Taliban fighters were killed in the fights.
The shutdown is causing severe financial losses. Pakistani customs officials estimate daily losses of $3 million for businesses on both sides.
The closure has also left hundreds of travellers stranded. On average, 1,000 people cross Torkham daily, but many are now stuck without a clear solution in sight.
As tensions persist, concerns grow over a prolonged crisis. The timeline for further negotiations and a possible resolution remains uncertain.
This includes children, the elderly, and women who are particularly worried and facing difficulties due to the closure.
Last week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir agreed to work towards reopening the Torkham border for trade and travellers.
“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 Torkham border, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, was shut on February 21 evening following a disputed construction near the zero point on the Afghanistan side.
This has left hundreds of trucks and heavy vehicles stranded in long queues, and hundreds of passengers are also stranded on both sides of the border at Torkham.
This includes children, the elderly, and women who are particularly worried and facing difficulties due to the closure.
Many are calling for the Torkham border to be opened for foot traffic so that passengers can reach their destinations promptly. There are currently no facilities available in Torkham, forcing people to stay outdoors even at night.
Jawad Afghani, a stranded passenger, told Pakhtun Digital English that when he arrived from Kashmir, he had no prior information about the border closure. Upon reaching Torkham, he found the border closed and has now spent two nights waiting.
He urged that the border be opened as soon as possible to alleviate the hardships faced by travellers.
According to Torkham border officials, the closure was prompted by construction work being carried out by Afghan forces at a controversial checkpoint. Despite repeated orders to cease work, the Afghan forces have continued their construction efforts. As a result, both commercial activities and pedestrian traffic have been suspended at the Torkham border crossing at Babdash, and security has been heightened on both sides.
Also Read: Afghan Jirga conveys Pakistan’s concerns on border construction to Kabul
Torkham is one of the largest crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The two neighbours shared 18 crossings. The major crossings are Torkham, Chaman, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi.
Yesterday, Pakistan Peoples Party submitted a resolution in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly against the closure of the Torkham Border on Monday.
