A sit-in protest by a group of investors and truck drivers is underway near the Torkham border crossing, which has left cargo trucks stranded on both sides of the border for more than 10 days.
The protesters claim that Taliban customs officials and Pakistani forces are now requiring a “Temporary Admission Document” (TAD) from drivers—a document that can take months to obtain—causing significant disruptions to the flow of goods across the border.
The Torkham crossing, a critical trade route that has long been a source of frustration for truck drivers, has once again become a flashpoint.
Hundreds of cargo trucks have been halted by Taliban and Pakistani security forces, exacerbating tensions at the already contentious border.
In response, drivers have set up protest camps and warned that if the issue is not resolved by tomorrow, they will block all traffic through the crossing.
“Our problem at Torkham is that initially, we were asked for passports and visas. We provided those, but now they’re demanding the TAD, which cannot be obtained quickly,” said Noor Sahib, one of the protesters.
The requirement for the Temporary Admission Document was enforced at the Torkham crossing beginning August 1, and drivers have complained about the lack of preparation and the logistical challenges posed by the new regulation.
Some drivers have warned that the stoppage of thousands of trucks on both sides of the border is damaging trade for both countries and leading to the spoilage of perishable goods, such as vegetables and fruits.
“We urge the Taliban to let us pass. Our goods are with us, and we are stuck here,” said Ziauddin, another protester.
Other protesters criticized the cumbersome process of obtaining the TAD, calling for streamlined procedures to prevent further disruptions.
In March, Taliban and Pakistan reached an agreement that trucks without a Temporary Admission Document would be prohibited from crossing at Torkham.
According to the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, under this agreement, the Pakistani Embassy in Afghanistan is responsible for issuing the TAD to Afghan drivers, while Afghan consulates in Peshawar and Quetta are tasked with providing the document to Pakistani drivers.
The Temporary Admission Document is issued to drivers for a fee of $100 and is valid for six months. However, the current backlog, which has left thousands of trucks stranded at Torkham, is severely disrupting trade between the two countries, according to the drivers.
