The primary trade and travel route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Torkham border crossing, was closed for the second day following skirmishes between the border forces of both nations. The genesis of the clash saw both parties pointing fingers at one another. According to local sources, the area surrounding the Michni checkpoint, a vantage point near the Landi Kotal bazaar overseeing the border, has been sealed off. Furthermore, security personnel vacated nearby offices and residences by Wednesday night, with transport halted towards the border indefinitely.
Landi Kotal’s assistant commissioner, Irshad Momand, emphasized the significance of the matter, noting discussions at higher diplomatic levels between Islamabad and Kabul. While the situation was reportedly stable, movement across the border remains paused, with many trucks, including those with perishable goods, being redirected due to the uncertainty of the border reopening.
Read: Torkham Border Closure: Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Hub Suspends Operations Amid Clashes
Humanitarian Concerns and Trade Impact Amid Border Closure
With the continuation of the border closure, various trade and humanitarian challenges have surfaced. Many trucks laden with essential goods, including perishable items, are stranded, adding to the plight of traders. Azeemullah Shinwari, a local transporter, highlighted the concern for trucks bearing perishable commodities. In a testament to the local spirit, some Afghan families that sought shelter in a mosque were provided accommodation in private homes by residents.
However, border officials denied the transfer of the bodies of an Afghan woman and child, both of whom passed away due to natural reasons, across the border. Abdul Basir Zabuli, speaking for the Taliban-led police in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, mentioned ongoing discussions to discern the clash’s cause. Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, from the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accentuated the economic setback, with many traders incurring substantial losses and disruptions in goods loading at the Karachi port.
