Pak-Afghan Torkham Border to Reopen After 25 Days Following Tribal Agreement

TORKHAM: The Pak-Afghan Torkham border is set to reopen today after being closed for 25 days, following an agreement reached by a tribal jirga. The jirga has successfully negotiated a halt to disputed construction activities and agreed to resume operations along the Torkham trade route.

Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir confirmed that the border could reopen within 48 to 72 hours and urged an extension for Afghan nationals wishing to return home. He also stressed the importance of facilitating travel ahead of the upcoming Eid festival to prevent any hardships for families.

Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, head of the Pakistani delegation at the jirga talks, confirmed that Afghan authorities had agreed to stop the controversial construction work, allowing the trade route to reopen today. A flag meeting at 9 am is scheduled at the Torkham border to finalize arrangements, after which the trade route will open, and a ceasefire will remain in effect until the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting takes place.

Security officials expressed satisfaction with the Afghan authorities’ decision, signaling a step towards restoring stability and cooperation.

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The closure of the Torkham border has had significant economic consequences, leading to a $1 billion decrease in the annual trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border was closed three weeks ago due to tensions arising from construction activities by Afghan forces near the border. The shutdown halted all types of traffic, resulting in an estimated daily loss of $300,000 and reducing the annual trade volume from $2.5 billion to $1.5 billion.