Qatar Appoints Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Ambassador To Afghanistan

According to the traders, around 2,000 containers at Torkham and Spin Boldak and another 800 at Karachi Port have been stranded over the past three days. Pakistani officials reportedly informed them that the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings will remain closed indefinitely.

Traders expressed concern that many of the containers carry perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables, which risk spoiling if delays persist.

Audio recordings shared by Afghan traders suggest that the resumption of cargo loading in Karachi could take time. Pakistani transport companies have reportedly been instructed not to handle Afghan-owned containers.

Afghan business owners have called on both the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government to “keep politics out of trade” and prevent further disruption to commerce.

The closure of key border crossings including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi has entered its third day, halting the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries.

According to Pakistani news outlets, camps in several districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mansehra have been shut down. Camps in Charsadda and Malakand have also been closed.

In an official directive, the federal government ordered provincial authorities to transfer the land used for the camps to state ownership and prevent the re-establishment of any refugee settlements in those areas.

The Express Tribune reported that Punjab province has simultaneously launched the third phase of its nationwide campaign to identify and deport “illegal” foreign nationals. Officials are tracking Afghan citizens who lack valid documents or whose residence permits have expired for more than a year.

The move marks another escalation in Pakistan’s deteriorating relations with the Taliban, following recent cross-border clashes and military tensions between the two sides.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that organisations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pose a shared threat to regional peace and stability, and that collective action is needed to counter them.

“There must be a serious and sustained fight against terrorist organisations like the TTP,” Khan said, urging the Taliban to uphold their responsibility to prevent cross-border militancy.

He added that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation to address mutual security concerns.

Khan emphasised that Pakistan has consistently prioritised diplomacy, even as it faces continuing threats from militant hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.

Semyon Grigoriev, Russia’s ambassador to Tajikistan, told local media that the situation in Afghanistan remains a “top priority” for both Moscow and Dushanbe.

“The issue of Afghanistan is of great importance for both sides,” Grigoryev said. “We attach particular significance to strengthening coordination with our Tajik partners on Afghanistan, both bilaterally and within key organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.”

He said Russian and Tajik security agencies maintain close cooperation on regional threats, while the two countries’ defence ministries are discussing efforts to boost the capacity of Russia’s 201st military base in Tajikistan and modernise Tajikistan’s armed forces with Russian assistance.

Grigoriev described the 201st base as a cornerstone of regional security, calling it “a crucial element of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation’s military infrastructure along the southern borders.”

Located near Dushanbe, the 201st base is Russia’s largest military installation outside its territory.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the base has expanded its military exercises and upgraded its equipment.

Earlier, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned that more than 23,000 fighters from international terrorist groups are now based in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a development he said poses a “serious threat to regional and global security.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday the discussions also addressed defence cooperation and the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project, which runs through Afghanistan.

The delegations further explored ways to expand trade, deepen political cooperation, and boost collaboration in agriculture and education.

According to Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Farukh Sharifzoda for Tajikistan and Deputy Foreign Minister Syed Asad Ali Gillani for Pakistan.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing strategic cooperation, while also voicing concern over Afghanistan’s deteriorating security situation.

Islamabad and Dushanbe have repeatedly warned that the presence of militant groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Ansarullah, in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to regional stability.