Pakistani tribal elders have stated that the Taliban has not yet agreed to stop building a border post at the Torkham crossing. The statement follows a Jirga meeting on Monday aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute.
The talks focused on halting construction, achieving a ceasefire, and reopening the border, which has been closed for 25 days. In a video obtained by Afghanistan International, Pakistani negotiators are seen urging the Taliban to cease construction, which initially triggered clashes. Taliban representatives said they needed time until Monday evening to consult their leadership before making a final decision.
Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, head of the Pakistani delegation, expressed hope that stopping the construction could lead to an end to the conflict. Meanwhile, Zalmay Azimi, a member of the Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce, stated that the prolonged border closure has caused $90 million in losses to Afghanistan’s private sector. He also noted that thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods remain stranded on both sides.
Azimi remained hopeful that the crossing would reopen soon, possibly within the next day. The Torkham border has now been closed for nearly a month due to ongoing clashes and Pakistan’s opposition to the Taliban’s construction activities, prolonging tensions between the two sides.
