Torkham Border Reopens After 8-Day Closure for Trade

ISLAMABAD, PESHAWAR (Khalid Mehmood, Shahabullah Yousafzai) Torkham border, which is an important route for trade and human traffic between Pakistan and Afghanistan, will be reopened for pedestrian and vehicular traffic from today after an 8-day closure. The border crossing was closed after Pakistan accused Afghanistan of building a new structure on its territory, leading to an exchange of fire between the two countries’ security forces. As a result of the blockade, hundreds of trucks and passengers were stranded on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Afghanistan is a landlocked country and depends on the transit trade agreement with Pakistan for trade with the outside world. Torkham Border Affairs In-charge Ismatullah Yaqoob confirmed the re-opening of the crossing and said the gate will open for transit and passengers as usual at 8 a.m. today. Sources revealed that Islamabad had conditioned the re-opening of the border on the withdrawal of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from Chitral district. According to reports, TTP has completely retreated from the border areas after the intervention of the Kabul government. Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muntafi said, “Afghan soil will not be used for hostile actions against Pakistan. Pakistan’s Chief of Mission Obaid made the decision to reopen the Torkham border.” It came out during a meeting involving Nizamani and Afghan officials. ISLAMABAD (Special Representative) Spokesperson of the Foreign Office has said that the Afghan territory is being used against Pakistan. After reviewing the situation, they will decide to open the Torkham border. He said in the weekly briefing that Pakistan has full capacity to deal with the challenges ahead. They hope the embassies to see, what is the public perception of their activities. Are their activities helping the stability of democracy or not? There have been terrorist attacks from Afghanistan in other places including Chitral, its territory is being used against Pakistan, the interim government should ensure that Pakistan does not face threats from Afghan territory, which is a matter of concern. Trade with Afghanistan is increasing, providing facilities to increase it. The Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement does not include road trade from India through Wagah. The caretaker foreign minister is on a visit to London to attend the Commonwealth Youth Ministers meeting. During this time, the issue regarding climate change was won. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haque and Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 18 to 23. The caretaker prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the counterparts of different countries. The spokesperson said that women are being targeted in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Human rights violations are continuing at the hands of Indian forces, Pakistan has been following the Afghanistan-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement for many years. Pakistan followed the agreement in good faith to help its neighboring country. Pakistan is deeply concerned about the misuse of this agreement. The visit of the American ambassador to Gwadar is welcome. They will welcome third-party investment under CPEC. According to APP, spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani visited Iran from September 11 to 12. Apart from his Iranian counterpart Special Representative Ali Qomi, he also met Iran’s Foreign Minister Amir Abdul Lahyan. This visit reflects Pakistan’s determination to work together with neighboring countries for peace and stability in Afghanistan.