Pakistan temporarily reopens Torkham border for pedestrians, keeps it closed for trade

The closed Torkham gate is seen from the zero point at the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Nangarhar province on February 23, 2023. (AFP)

• Pakistani official says the border was reopened after a meeting between government functionaries on both sides
• Customs clearing agents say border closure has brought suffering to traders who have incurred significanf losses

PESHAWAR: Pakistan temporarily reopened a busy border crossing on its frontier with Afghanistan in the northwest on Friday following a clash between the security forces on the two sides to facilitate pedestrian movement, confirmed officials and customs clearing agents.
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime shut down the Torkham border, the main trade link between the two neighboring countries, last weekend while blaming Islamabad for not abiding by an agreement to let Afghan patients and their caretakers cross over without travel documents for medical care. The Afghan Taliban and Pakistani border guards exchanged fire on Monday which wounded a Pakistani soldier.
A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by the country’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, visited Kabul to hold talks on security issues with the top Taliban leadership at a time when relations between the two states have come under tremendous strain. Following the talks, Torkham was reopened by the Taliban forces on Thursday but was closed again due to “administrative issues.”
Ghuncha Gul, an official in Khyber tribal district, told Arab News a meeting between the border officials of both countries was held on Friday to sort out differences and remove any misunderstandings.
“Today at 3pm, pedestrians were allowed to cross the border from both sides,” he said. “A meeting of a 10-member committee, five from each side, lasted for about three hours and reached an agreement to reopen the border temporarily to minimize the woes of travelers.”
Gul informed the border was only reopened for pedestrians but remained closed for trade. He added a sequel of the meeting was also likely tomorrow, Saturday, to discuss all outstanding border issues.
Asghar Ali, a Pakistani custom clearing agent at Torkham, told Arab News thousands of men and women, including patients, had been stranded at the border for days while truckloads of fruits and vegetables had also been perishing due to delay on both sides to reopen the trade route.
“The closure of Torkham has inflicted heavy financial losses on traders as hundreds of loaded trucks are still stranded on both sides,” he continued. “Passengers, especially women and children, have also been suffering.”
A similar situation was also described on the other side of the frontier by an Afghan custom official.
“Heavy trucks and containers loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, and juices remained parked along the roadside and ultimately perished,” Ghulam Nabi Toor, who deals with the trade movement on the Afghan side of the border, told Arab News over the phone. “We are really fed up of this frequent border tussle that leads to its closure and reopening.”
“Both countries need to find a permanent solution to the problems, but it seems impossible,” he continued.
Pakistan has not recognized the Taliban government in Kabul since it took control of the neighboring country in August 2021, though it has allowed Afghan patients to get medical treatment in its hospitals while also trying to enhance bilateral trade.