Kharlachi border closure enters 20th day

PARACHINAR: The Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border crossing in Kurram remained closed for the 20th consecutive day on Friday, suspending trade, travel, and other cross-border activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The closure caused severe hardships to residents, traders, and daily wage earners on both sides of the border.According to the district administration, the border was sealed following attacks from across the Afghan side on Pakistani areas and border posts earlier this month.

Authorities said the situation remained tense, and the border would stay closed until security concerns were addressed.Local traders said that before the closure, goods such as cloth, fresh fruit, and dry fruit were imported from Afghanistan, while Pakistan exported food items, livestock, and other essential commodities. The suspension of trade has led to price hikes in both countries, particularly in food and daily-use items.

Residents of the border areas reported that the closure also affected people-to-people movement. Afghan nationals from Paktia province, who frequently travelled to Kurram district for treatment, were unable to cross the border. Afghan patients and their families have complained of severe difficulties in accessing healthcare.

“The closure has not only affected trade but also disrupted our access to medical facilities in Pakistan,” said one Afghan resident from Paktia province.Locals said that recurring tensions at the border often forced families living near the frontier to relocate temporarily for safety.