The Ghulam Khan border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was closed to passengers and medical patients on Friday, according to local sources in Afghanistan’s Khost province.
Residents told Afghanistan International that Pakistani authorities shut the crossing to pressure Afghans into obtaining visas for entry. The closure has sparked concern among local travellers, particularly those seeking urgent medical treatment in Pakistan.
Neither Pakistani nor Taliban officials have commented publicly on the move.
Local sources said that, until now, patients were permitted to cross the border using a “temporary travel pass.” It remains unclear whether the current closure extends to commercial vehicles or trade-related transport.
Pakistan has previously closed the Ghulam Khan crossing entirely for several days, halting all movement, including trade and humanitarian access.
In late June, Taliban officials in Khost announced a similar closure, stating that Pakistan had shut the crossing without providing a reopening date. At the time, authorities advised citizens, traders and travellers to avoid the Ghulam Khan route and seek alternative border points.
Located in the Gurbuz district in southwestern Khost, the Ghulam Khan crossing is the third most significant border checkpoint between Afghanistan and Pakistan, after Chaman and Torkham. It lies in a mountainous area adjacent to Pakistan’s North Waziristan district, a region often affected by security concerns.
Pakistan periodically shuts border crossings with Afghanistan due to political tensions, trade disputes, or security operations, frequently disrupting travel and commerce between the two countries.
