KABUL, Afghanistan — The Torkham border crossing, a key trade and transit route between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has remained closed for five consecutive days, stranding travelers and disrupting trade between the two countries.
The closure comes amid tensions over the construction of security posts by Taliban forces near the border, which Pakistan considers a violation of border agreements. In response, Pakistani border authorities shut down the crossing, halting all movement.
“Whenever the Afghan side builds security posts on its own soil, Pakistan closes the border without prior notice, creating difficulties for the people,” said Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban’s commissioner at Torkham.
The shutdown has caused severe hardships for travelers, including patients seeking medical treatment in Pakistan.
The economic impact has been significant, with Pakistani media reporting that traders on both sides are losing an estimated $3 million per day due to the border closure.
This is not the first time Torkham has been shut down due to border tensions. In August 2024, the crossing was closed following clashes between Pakistani forces and the Taliban over road construction near the border. Similar closures have occurred at other crossings, including Ghulam Khan in Khost and Kharlachi in Paktia, after military confrontations between the two sides.
Despite talks between Taliban officials in Nangarhar and Pakistani authorities to resolve the dispute, negotiations have so far failed to yield results. Pakistan has demanded that the Taliban halt construction near the border, a request the Taliban have refused.
With the closure dragging on, hundreds of trucks carrying essential goods remain stranded on both sides of the border, raising concerns about rising prices and supply shortages in Afghanistan.
