Pak-Afghan ties: Torkham border crossing reopens

Checkpoint was closed after a grenade attack on Friday injured soldiers and civilians

PESHAWAR: After a day’s closure, the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan was reopened on Saturday after a successful flag meeting between the two countries.

The border was closed after a grenade attack injured soldiers and civilians on Friday afternoon.

At the flag meeting, the Pakistan side was represented by Sector Commander Brig Arshad, Khyber Rifles Commandment Colonel Farrukh, Lt-Col Mubashir, Col (retd) Ifthikhar of National Logistics Cell and Landi Kotal Assistant Political Agent Niaz Mohammad while officials of the Afghan Border Police included Col Qasim, Col Nisa, Gate Commander Ghorhonde and Subaidar Amin Jan.



Officials privy to the meeting said the Pakistan side maintained that terrorists were the common enemies of both countries and they should jointly take action against them.

Pakistani officials told their Afghan counterparts that because of the Friday’s incident, they would improve security by installing fences, concrete walls, cameras and barriers in their area. They added that they would continue to assist Afghan students coming to Pakistan for school.

Officials from the Afghan side requested that the gate be opened because a large number of people were waiting to enter Pakistan, mostly those needing medical attention, while trucks carrying perishables were also waiting to get through.



The Pakistani officials said incidents of firing on the border only occurred when there was movement on the border in areas other than the ones specified for entry or exit.

After consultation with higher authorities, the gate was reopened at 3pm.

At least six security officials as well as civilians were injured in two separate grenade attacks along the Torkham crossing on Friday.

“The first grenade fell on the Afghan side near zero point at about 1:25pm in which two Afghan security personnel and 12 civilians were injured,” an official said. “The second grenade fell in front of FC Quarter Guard in which five Frontier Corps personnel and two children were wounded.”