PESHAWAR: Hundreds of trucks and other vehicles loaded with basic items were stranded on both sides of the border as the key crossing point-Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been closed to trade on Saturday over documents rules for commercial vehicle drivers crossing the border. However, the border remained open for pedestrians, as reported by locals in the area.
The crucial crossing point between the two sides has been temporarily closed a number of times in the last couple of years, including a recent one after Pakistan launched a massive operation against illegal Afghans living in the country.
Meanwhile, both sides blamed the opposite side for the latest closure at the Torkham crossing, which started early Saturday morning.
According to local residents at Jamrud, the border was closed for commercial truck drivers, resulting in long queues for vehicles on the Pakistani side.
Meanwhile, Afghan border official Abdul Jabbar Hekmat told the media that hundreds of trucks were also stranded on the Afghanistan side.
However, Pakistani officials rejected any issue of imposing visa requirements, adding that the border had been shut when Afghan counterparts were informed truck drivers could only cross with a valid passport, whereas many Afghan drivers didn’t have the required document. Pakistani officials further said that both sides agreed in past meetings on border rules and regulations.
Pak-Afghan Trade Borders
Torkham and Chaman’s borders are the two major crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly for trade activities. The closure of each results in a massive negative impact on both sides.
