Torkham border shut for second consecutive day

• Passengers stranded, no official word on reopening.
• Trade halted, businesses suffer huge financial losses.
• Women, children forced to spend night at border.

LANDIKOTAL/ JAMRUD: The Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham remained closed for the second consecutive day on Sunday amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, The News reported.

According to sources, the closure has halted trade activities and suspended pedestrian movement, creating significant difficulties for travellers and businesses on both sides.

On the first day of the closure, hundreds of passengers, including women and children, were left stranded, waiting for clearance to cross the border. With no clear information on when the crossing would reopen, many were forced to spend the night at the border under uncertain conditions.

A large number of passengers gathered outside the immigration centre in Torkham, waiting for clearance to travel. However, there have been no negotiations or official announcements on the reopening of the border. The prolonged closure also affected trade with trucks carrying goods stuck on both sides, raising concerns among traders and transporters.

Torkham customs association member and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam(JUI) leader Qari Nazim Gul Shinwari said frequent closure of the Torkham border caused losses to both countries. 

He stated that the closure of the Torkham border resulted in financial losses worth millions of rupees. He called for resolving issues through dialogue and urged authorities to allow patients, women and children to cross the border.

The Torkham border was closed on Saturday for all kinds of movement after tension escalated between Pakistani and Afghan forces over the construction of a bunker by the latter near Zero-Point.

According to security sources, Afghan forces attempted to build a bunker in a disputed area near the border, prompting Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) to respond. 

Both sides have reinforced their positions and Pakistani authorities relocated customs, immigration and police officials from Torkham Bazaar to Landikotal as a precautionary measure. Both sides have taken defensive positions, heightening fears of armed clash.

The Torkham crossing, a vital trade route, frequently faces such disruptions, severely impacting economic activities in both countries.