- Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopens following a week-long closure.
- Trade operations, including the import and export of goods, vehicle transit, and pedestrian traffic.
- The decision to reopen the border follows a diplomatic meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials.
The Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is set to resume operations today after a temporary closure of over a week due to cross-border tensions in Chitral, according to media reports.
Customs officials have confirmed that trade operations, including the import and export of goods, as well as vehicle transit, will recommence starting from Friday. Pedestrian traffic will also be allowed through the border.
The decision to reopen the border comes after a productive meeting between Acting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, Head of the Pakistan Mission in Kabul. During this meeting, Afghan authorities provided assurances to Pakistan that Afghan territory would not be used for actions against Pakistan.
The Torkham border closure had been initiated last week following a clash between security forces of both nations. The dispute originated from a disagreement over the construction of a bunker by the interim Afghanistan government on the Afghan side, particularly on a hilltop near the border.
Pakistani authorities had raised concerns over this construction, labeling it a breach of international law. However, the Afghan side did not comply with the request, leading to escalating tensions and the eventual border closure.
During the dispute, mortar shells were fired from the Afghan side, hitting various offices, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Customs. A mosque on the Pakistani side and the Bacha Mena border village were also affected, though no casualties were reported.
The exchange of gunfire lasted for approximately three hours, during which a Frontier Corps soldier named Maqsood sustained bullet injuries and was subsequently hospitalized.
The closure of the border left a significant number of individuals stranded on both sides, including travelers, patients, women, children, and trucks carrying goods. This situation prompted the precautionary closure of numerous government and private offices.
In a positive development, the reopening of the Torkham border signifies a step toward de-escalation and normalization of trade and travel between Afghanistan and Pakistan after a challenging period of tension.