ISLAMABAD — The closure of the Torkham border crossing has resulted in approximately $12 million in trade losses, Pakistani customs officials said, as the key trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained shut for a sixth consecutive day on Thursday.
According to Geo News, Pakistan’s immigration authorities said that nearly 10,000 people cross the border daily, and the prolonged closure has left thousands stranded on both sides.
Mujeeb Khan Shinwari, head of the Torkham Customs Brokers Association, said multiple rounds of negotiations between Taliban and Pakistani border officials have taken place but have so far failed to resolve the standoff.
The crossing was shut down on Saturday after tensions escalated between Pakistani forces and the Taliban over the construction of a Taliban security outpost near the “zero point” border line.
Both sides have since reinforced their positions, with Pakistani authorities relocating customs, immigration, and police personnel from the Torkham market to Landi Kotal to prevent possible clashes.
The closure has hit local traders and daily wage workers particularly hard, further straining economic activity in the region.
With both sides adopting defensive positions, concerns over the possibility of armed clashes have increased.
Torkham, a vital trade corridor, has experienced multiple disruptions in recent years, severely affecting economic activities in both countries.
