Rally demand reopening of Torkham border

LANDIKOTAL: Labourers, traders, political leaders and civil society members staged a peace rally here on Saturday urging Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve the issue through negotiations as the Torkham border closure entered its 15th day.

The closure of the key border crossing has severely disrupted trade and movement, leaving thousands of people including patients, women, children and elderly men stranded for the last two weeks under the open sky. The traders, transporters and daily wage workers have been particularly affected, as they rely on cross-border business for their livelihoods.

The rally participants in Landikotal urged both the countries to put aside their differences and reopen the crossing immediately to prevent further suffering.

Reports from the border area suggested that hostilities between security forces of the two countries continued on Saturday, with both sides using heavy weapons to target each other’s positions. The fresh escalation has deepened concerns over regional stability and the impact of ongoing tensions on local communities.

Traders participating in the rally in Landikotal lamented the heavy financial losses they have suffered due to the border closure. Many trucks loaded with perishable goods, including fruits and vegetables, remain stranded on both sides, resulting in massive spoilage. They warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, businesses in the region could face irreparable damage.

Daily wage workers, especially porters and transporters, have been the hardest hit, as they have lost their only source of income. “We earn on a daily basis and if the border remains closed, our families will go hungry,” said a local labourer.