MPA urges reopening of Torkham crossing

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker and member provincial assembly, Ahmed Kundi, has submitted a resolution to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly demanding the reopening of Torkham border to resume Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral trade.

The resolution states that Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly Islamic countries with a long border and several entry points, including the busy Torkham border crossing.

However, the border has been closed for all kinds of travel and trade for the past 16 days, causing disruptions to movement and trade activities on both sides. The closure of the border has resulted in billions of rupees losses for the business community and the state, Kundi states in his resolution, urging the federal government to take immediate action to reopen the Torkham border.

The resolution said that reopening the Torkham border would restore travel and trade activities between the two countries and prevent further hardship for the people.

It may be recalled that on February 28, Torkham border crossing was closed that left travelers stranded on both sides and caused significant financial losses to traders amounting to millions of rupees.

The border remains closed due to tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

According to security sources, firing has ceased over the past two days; however, the border remains shut, disrupting bilateral trade and pedestrian movement.

Reports indicated that eight Frontier Corps personnel have been injured, while three members of the Afghan forces have been killed during the clashes.

Customs officials reported that the closure of the trade route is causing an average daily loss of approximately $3 million in bilateral trade.

Daily imports from Afghanistan average around $1.6 million, while exports stand at about $1.4 million, affecting nearly $42 million in trade over the past two weeks.

Immigration authorities stated that around 10,000 individuals typically cross into Afghanistan daily through the Torkham border, but this movement has been halted due to the ongoing tensions.

The conflict arose 16 days ago when Afghan forces were constructing a structure in a disputed area along the border, leading to increased hostility between Pakistani and Afghan forces, security sources claimed.

Moreover, due to this dispute, FC officials have closed the Torkham trade route to all forms of traffic.

Heavy cross-border firing continued between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Torkham-Jalalabad border as the Afghan government persisted with construction in disputed territory despite multiple warnings from Pakistan on March 5.

Heavy cross-border firing continued on March 5 between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Torkham-Jalalabad border.

Last month Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance and Inter-Provincial Coordination, Muzammil Aslam said that the traffic capacity at Torkham crossing would be increased.

He added that historic sites in Khyber Pass would be restored along with the steam safari to attract tourism to the area.

Aslam was given a detailed briefing on security issues and import export at the Machni Check Post.