PESHAWAR: The cross-border trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Monday, as the Torkham crossing and other key border points remained closed following unprovoked firing by the Afghan security forces.
Officials said the suspension of movement at Torkham, one of the busiest gateways for bilateral trade and transit, has brought cross-border commerce to a standstill. Freight vehicles have been diverted to Landi Kotal as security along the frontier remains tense, while traders and commuters on both sides face growing losses and hardship.
Besides Torkham in Khyber district, the Chaman–Spin Boldak crossing in Balochistan, Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan and Kharlachi in Kurram also remained sealed for the second day. The closures came after what Pakistani officials described as unprovoked firing by the Afghan security forces, disrupting all movement across the frontier.
Local sources in Chaman said the Afghan nationals who had been stranded in Pakistan were allowed to return home through the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar province, but all other trade and travel activity remained suspended.
This is not the first time the Torkham border has been closed following tensions between Pakistani and Afghan security forces. The crossing was last sealed on February 21 after disagreements over construction near the zero point.
The standoff escalated in March when an exchange of fire between the two sides left six soldiers and two civilians injured, while several houses, a mosque and offices of clearing agents were damaged during the three days of shelling.
The crisis was later defused through Jirga mediation, after which the Pakistani delegation made it clear that the border would reopen only if the Afghan authorities complied with protocols requiring prior notification of any construction near the frontier.
Islamabad reiterated that no new structures or renovations would be permitted at or near the zero point under the existing understandings between the two countries. The customs officials at Torkham said the ongoing closure was causing daily export losses estimated at $1.5 million, while imports worth Rs545 million had been suspended.
During the previous shutdown in March, trade at Torkham remained halted for 27 days, leaving around 5,000 loaded trucks stranded and inflicting heavy financial losses on the traders and transporters. Officials said the crossings would remain closed until communication channels between the two countries were restored and the security situation stabilised.
