Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has stated that the ongoing closure of the Torkham border crossing is due to the Taliban’s attempt to construct a checkpoint on Pakistani soil.
He described the move as a violation of existing protocols, emphasising that Pakistan seeks to resolve the issue through dialogue.
During a press briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Khan confirmed that Pakistan had formally raised concerns with Taliban officials and urged them to settle the matter through negotiations.
The Pakistani government has assigned various national institutions the task of jointly managing the borders to prevent unilateral actions that could compromise regional security. Pakistan insists that any establishment of a new border checkpoint must be mutually agreed upon through diplomatic discussions.
“We have informed Afghan authorities that this issue can be resolved through proper discussions,” Khan said.
Despite ongoing discussions, the Torkham border crossing remains closed for the eighth consecutive day since last Friday, following Pakistan’s decision to enforce the shutdown.
Pakistani media reports indicate that multiple rounds of negotiations between Taliban and Pakistani border officials have failed to reach an agreement on reopening the crossing.
Meanwhile, Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban commissioner at Torkham, stated two days after the closure that Pakistan had shut the border gate in response to construction activities on the Afghan side.
At the time, he said: “We have asked the Pakistanis to explain their reasons for closing the gate and to reopen the route, but they have not responded to our request yet.”
The prolonged closure has had severe economic repercussions, with Pakistani officials estimating losses of around $12 million for traders. Reports also indicate that the shutdown has exacerbated transportation issues, leaving many traders and travellers stranded.
Torkham is a vital trade corridor, with an estimated 700 to 800 trucks crossing daily, in addition to 4,000 to 5,000 passengers travelling through the route.
The border has been frequently shut down in the past due to rising tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. However, the current closure is reportedly inflicting substantial economic losses on both traders and passengers.
