PESHAWAR: Pakistan has reopened a key northwestern border crossing with Afghanistan, police and customs officials said, eleven days following it was closed over Afghan drivers not having proper and complete travel documents.
This decision comes after a delegation of Afghan transporters and representatives of Chamber of Commerce met with Pakistani trade officials at Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul and requested the reopening of the Torkham border, local media reported today.
Initially, Pakistan had introduced new visa and passport requirements for drivers and their assistants, which Afghanistan rejected, leading to a discord between the two sides and the subsequent closure of trade through the crossing.
Citing the impact on trade, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and chamber of commerce delegation engaged in discussions with Pakistani embassy staff to seek relaxation in visa requirements.
Pakistan has now accepted the request from Afghanistan and granted a relaxation for drivers until the end of March, according to the media reports.
The closure of the trade crossing had resulted in thousands of vehicles being stranded, carrying items such as vegetables, fruit, onion from Iran and Central Asia, as well as coal. During the closure, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan remained at zero, according to a customs official.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghanistan government spokesperson, has indicated that an agreement is near, and the public can expect positive news soon.
Currently, various border crossings, including Chaman, Angur Ada, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi, are closed, causing a significant daily loss estimated at Rs680 million for both sides. The closure has persisted for 10 days, impacting trade between the two countries.
