Torkham Border To Reopen After Month-Long Closure, Says Taliban Official
Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban commissioner in Torkham, has confirmed that the border crossing will reopen on Wednesday, March 19, at 4:00 PM local time.
Earlier, sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban and Pakistani border officials had reached an agreement to resume movement.
Sources stated that both sides finalised the decision during a meeting on Wednesday. Security officials confirmed that Asim Kayani, the Pakistan Army commander in Khyber, led the Pakistani delegation, while Abdul Jabbar Hikmat headed the Taliban delegation.
The meeting followed two failed jirgas aimed at reopening the critical border crossing. Officials involved in the negotiations said the Taliban’s refusal to halt border post construction had been the main obstacle.
Pakistan initially shut the Torkham border on February 21 after a clash between Taliban and Pakistani border forces. The dispute was triggered by the Taliban’s construction of a border post and Pakistan’s installation of a road sign at the zero-point. In response, Pakistan sealed the crossing to both travelers and trade.
The closure has stranded thousands of passengers and caused significant financial losses to businesses. A Pakistani official told Express Tribune that the closure has cost Pakistan around $72 million. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce reported that Afghan traders have suffered losses of approximately $66 million due to the prolonged shutdown.
