Torkham border closed as Afghan forces try to build bunker

LANDIKOTAL: The Torkham border was closed on Saturday for all kinds of movement after tension escalated between Pakistani and Afghan forces over the construction of a bunker by the latter near Zero-Point.

According to security sources, Afghan forces attempted to build a bunker in a disputed area near the border, prompting Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) to respond. Both sides have reinforced their positions and Pakistani authorities relocated customs, immigration and police officials from Torkham Bazaar to Landikotal as a precautionary measure. Both sides have taken defensive positions, heightening fears of armed clash.

The border closure has caused major disruptions in trade and travel. Hundreds of trucks carrying essential goods, including food and other supplies, remain stranded on both sides, leading to heavy financial losses for traders and transporters. The Torkham crossing, a vital trade route, frequently faces such disruptions, severely impacting economic activities in both countries. In addition to trade losses, the border closure has left thousands of travelers stranded, many of whom rely on the crossing for medical treatment, business and family visits in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It may be added here that daily around 10,000 passengers cross the Torkham border every month while around 800 cargo trucks cross the Torkham border every day.