Torkham Border
After 10 days of closure due to clashes between border forces, the Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened for all kinds of traffic on Friday. Pedestrian movement has commenced, with hundreds of travelers flocking to the immigration section for entry into Afghanistan.
Assistant Commissioner of Khyber district in Pakistan, Irshad Khan Mohmamd, confirmed that the clearance of trucks is underway, and Afghan citizens are entering Afghanistan after completing the clearance and immigration processes.
The border closure began on September 6 following a clash between the security forces of the two countries, which resulted in an injured Frontier Corps soldier. The dispute stemmed from the “illegal construction” of a bunker by the interim Afghanistan government on the Pakistani side of the border.
On September 11, the Pakistan Foreign Office stated that Islamabad cannot accept the construction of any structures by the interim Afghan government inside its territory, as it violates Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The Torkham border is the busiest crossing point for trade and people between the two nations, which share a porous 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier cutting through rugged mountains and valleys.
Traders on both sides suffered losses of perishable goods due to the border closure, while Afghan travelers missed important hospital appointments and flights out of Pakistan.
An anonymous customs official had previously hinted at the likelihood of reopening the border on Friday, stating, “We will open the Torkham border for trade tomorrow.” Import, export, and transit vehicle passageways were expected to be restored from Friday onwards.
The decision to reopen the border followed a meeting between Acting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the Head of the Pakistan Mission in Kabul, Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani. During the meeting, Afghan authorities assured Pakistan that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan.
Amid Border Reopening, Mortar Shells Fired Near Torkham
Speaking about the attack preceding the border’s closure, the on-duty border official reported that the Afghan side fired several mortar shells, which struck the offices of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Customs, and other official workplaces.
The official added that a mortar shell also struck a mosque on the Pakistani side of the border, while another landed in the Bacha Mena border village. However, these shells did not cause any casualties.
He added that gunfire started at 2 pm and continued for about three hours, resulting in FC soldier Maqsood sustaining bullet injuries, and they transported him to a hospital.
Amidst this border dispute, a significant number of individuals found themselves stranded on both sides of the border. As a precautionary safety measure, the situation forced the closure of hundreds of government and private offices.”
