Traders & Drivers In KP Protest To Demand Reopening Of Torkham Crossing

The protesters urged both the Taliban and the Pakistani government to resolve their disputes and ease the suffering of travellers and traders. The demonstration took place on Saturday, 8 March, with participants chanting slogans such as “We want peace and security” and “We demand security in border areas.”

Stranded drivers and traders in Landi Kotal called on the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to allow traffic and passengers to cross without further delay. An Afghan driver affected by the closure said he had spent over 50,000 Pakistani rupees due to the prolonged shutdown. He added that the situation has become even more difficult with Ramadan approaching.

The Torkham crossing was closed on 22 February after tensions escalated between Pakistani border guards and the Taliban. The clashes have intensified over the past two weeks. The Pakistani government stated that the closure was due to the Taliban’s attempt to construct a checkpoint on Pakistani territory.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, no agreement has been reached to reopen the border. Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, met with Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul. He insisted that closing the Torkham crossing will not resolve conflicts and stressed the need for dialogue to address the ongoing issues.