KEY POINTS
- Torkham and Chaman crossings set to reopen after 12-day closure.
- Over 1,500 trucks carrying essential goods stranded at Torkham.
- Border closure disrupted trade and daily life along the border.
- Reopening contingent on absence of further disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings are expected to reopen within the next 24 to 48 hours, private TV channels reported on Monday, citing diplomatic sources.
The Torkham and Chaman crossings, crucial for bilateral trade and transit, have been closed since October 12 following attacks by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated terrorist groups on Pakistan Armed Forces posts.
The resulting clashes left more than 200 terrorists dead and claimed the lives of 23 Pakistani soldiers, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed.
Over 1,500 trucks, trailers, and containers carrying essential goods such as cement, rice, and medicines remain stranded at Torkham, a senior Pakistani customs official in Peshawar told Arab News.
The prolonged closure has caused significant disruptions to trade and daily life for communities along the frontier.
Residents expressed cautious optimism about the expected reopening. “People can breathe and feel relieved. Before that, gunfire damaged a few houses in our village,” said Sadiq Shah, 56, a shopkeeper from Baizai on the Pakistani side, as reported by Arab News.
Vendors have resumed work, with fruit and vegetable carts on the streets and bakeries back in operation.
Background
The Torkham and Chaman border crossings are among the busiest trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Their closure has impacted the flow of essential goods and disrupted economic activity on both sides, Reuters reported. Previous skirmishes along the frontier have occasionally interrupted trade, but the October clashes were among the deadliest in recent years.
Authorities in both countries remain vigilant, with the reopening conditional upon no further security incidents.
The border reopening is expected to ease trade bottlenecks and restore normalcy for frontier communities.
