PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir on Sunday, with both leaders emphasizing the urgent need to reopen the Torkham border, which has been closed for eight days due to tensions arising from the construction of a bunker by Afghan forces near Zero-Point.
Gandapur highlighted the importance of reopening the border for trade and travel, particularly with Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr approaching. He called on the Afghan embassy to play a key role in facilitating the reopening.
The border closure has caused significant disruption, with trade halted and thousands of people stranded on both sides. The Pakistan-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that around 2,500 goods-laden trucks were stuck on the Pakistani side, further exacerbating the crisis.
During the meeting, Gandapur also discussed other bilateral issues, including the challenges faced by Afghan citizens living in KP. He mentioned the KP government’s efforts to form a jirga for talks with the Afghan government and indicated that the federal government’s approval for the jirga’s terms of reference was awaited.
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The Chief Minister reiterated that regional peace was vital for both nations and that the provincial government was in talks with international organizations to provide healthcare and education services to Afghan nationals.
The discussion also covered Pakistan’s ongoing concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, particularly the activities of groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan claims operate from Afghan soil.
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