Trade resumes as Pakistan, Afghanistan reopen Torkham crossing

Story By Al Jazeera On February 25, 2023, 2:05 PM

The usual trade and movement of people between Pakistan and Afghanistan has fully resumed after the two sides reopened a key border crossing that was closed nearly a week ago by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, stranding people and thousands of trucks carrying food and essential items.

The Torkham border crossing was reopened as of 6am (0130 GMT) Saturday, Afghan customs official Muslim Khaksar said at the waypoint in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, according to AFP news agency. “The border is now open from both sides for civilians as well as for traders,” he said.

The Afghan embassy in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, also announced the reopening of the Torkham border on Twitter.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani customs official said “trucks carrying rice, cement, construction material, medicines and other edibles were sent to Afghanistan”, adding that lorries loaded with coal, vegetables and fruits had entered Pakistan, AFP reported.

Around 1,400 trucks on the Pakistan side were still waiting to cross into Afghanistan, he added.

A Taliban security personnel stands guard as young Afghan boys help elderly men in wheelchairs after an incident of gunfire between Afghanistan and Pakistan border forces near the Torkham border — A Taliban security guard watches as young Afghan boys help elderly men in wheelchairs near the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province [Shafiullah Kakar/AFP]

Disputes linked to the 2,600km (1,615-mile) border have been a bone of contention between the neighbours for decades. The Torkham crossing is the main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan.

The announcement sparked joy and relief among those who had been waiting for the reopening of the international trade route since Sunday, when the Taliban shuttered it, alleging that Islamabad was denying Afghan migrants entry into Pakistan for medical care.

Last Monday, Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards exchanged fire, wounding a Pakistani soldier. Since then, officials from the two sides were in talks to resolve the issue amid demands from people on both sides to immediately reopen the crossing.