Protest In Pakistan: Torkham Highway Reopens After Hourslong Blockade

The Torkham Highway, a key trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has reopened following an hourslong blockade by protesters demanding the release of a tribal leader, Malik Nasir Ahmad Kokikhel.

According to local sources, the protest was dispersed by police, and the Torkham crossing resumed operations on Tuesday afternoon.

The demonstration began earlier that morning in the Jamrud area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where dozens of protesters, including women from the Afridi tribe, blocked the highway. They accused the Pakistani government of the "unjust detention" of Kokikhel and called for his immediate release.

Malik Nasir Ahmad Kokikhel, a prominent tribal leader and member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was reportedly arrested last week after convening a tribal jirga (council) in the Khyber region. Authorities have charged him with "disturbing public order."

Speaking to local media, one protester said, “Our leaders are being targeted and arrested without any justification. This is part of the state’s continued oppression of tribal people.” The protesters vowed to resume their demonstrations if Kokikhel is not released promptly.

The Torkham crossing is a critical commercial artery, linking Pakistan with Afghanistan and Central Asia. Any disruption to its operation poses significant economic implications for cross-border trade and regional connectivity.

Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the charges against Kokikhel or the status of his detention.