Torkham border crossing opens for cargo vehicles after six days


The Torkham border crossing, a key route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, was reopened on Saturday for cargo vehicles after a six-day closure

According to border officials, the suspension of bilateral trade between the two neighbours caused a loss of Rs270 million in taxes to the national exchequer

Moreover, thousands of cargo vehicles were stuck due to the closure of the border crossing

Earlier this week, Taliban authorities closed Torkham, the main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan

Read: Pakistan delegation visits Kabul to discuss security concerns Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry said up to 6,000 trucks loaded with goods had been stuck on both sides

On February 23, the Afghan Taliban reopened the border crossing with Pakistan, allowing thousands of trucks to bring in essential items, officials said

Also Read: Bajwa wanted to ‘resettle’ Pakistani Taliban The Torkham border crossing is a critical route for trade and transit between the two countries and its closure had caused severe disruptions to the delivery of essential goods

The decision to reopen the border crossing by Afghan Taliban came a day after a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, visited Kabul to discuss security and other matters

Asif was accompanied on the unannounced visit to the Afghan capital by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majid and Special envoy on Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq



Date:26-Feb-2023 Reference:View Original Link