Islamabad: The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Torkham border crossing was closed due to the construction of a checkpost by Taliban border guards inside Pakistani territory. Efforts are currently underway from both sides to reopen the key border crossing.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday, February 28, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan expressed optimism that the issue would soon be resolved through dialogue.
Taliban local officials, however, claimed that the border was unilaterally closed by Pakistani border forces on the night of February 21 at 10:00 PM in protest against the Taliban’s construction of border checkposts near Torkham.
For the first time, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry officially addressed the closure, asserting that the border was shut down due to the Taliban’s actions.
“The issue is that the Afghan side (Taliban) is trying to build a border checkpost on our side. We have asked them to resolve such matters through bilateral mechanisms, such as coordination committees, instead of taking unilateral actions,” the spokesperson stated.
The week-long closure of the Torkham border has caused significant hardships for travelers, including patients, trying to move between the two countries. Hundreds of passengers on both sides are eagerly waiting for the reopening of the border.
Additionally, Afghan and Pakistani traders have voiced concerns over the economic impact of the closure. More than 5,000 trucks carrying goods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food supplies, remain stranded on both sides of the border. According to Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, an official from the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, the ongoing closure has severely affected trade and transit operations.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed hope that the issue would be resolved soon to allow trade activities between Afghanistan and Pakistan to resume.
“I am optimistic that we will resolve these issues and resume trade through the Torkham border crossing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Taliban officials confirmed that negotiations between Taliban and Pakistani border authorities over the past week ended without any resolution.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, stated that the closure was a unilateral decision by Pakistan and that the Taliban administration was actively working to resolve the matter. He also acknowledged the negative impact on Afghan transit trade due to the prolonged closure.
In Nangarhar province, Taliban’s Torkham commissioner, Abdul Jabar Hikmat, expressed frustration, saying, “Pakistani officials carry out reconstruction work on their side, and we do not object. But when we do something, they close the border.”
While Pakistan claims that the Taliban attempted to build a checkpost on Pakistani territory, Taliban officials insist that the structure was being built within Afghanistan’s borders.
The Torkham border is not only a crucial transit route between Afghanistan and Pakistan but also a key trade corridor linking Central Asia with Pakistan.
This is not the first time the Torkham border has been closed due to border disputes. The crossing has previously faced multiple shutdowns, disrupting daily travel for thousands of passengers and halting the movement of hundreds of transit trucks carrying goods between the two countries.
