TORKHAM, Afghanistan — The closure of the Torkham border crossing, now in its ninth day, has left thousands of travelers stranded and brought cross-border trade to a standstill, as both sides remain locked in a dispute over border infrastructure.
Among those affected are patients returning from Pakistan after medical treatment, many of whom have run out of money and have nowhere to stay.
“I have no food, no money, and my visa has expired,” said Mohammad Arif, who traveled to Pakistan for kidney treatment. “I spent everything on medicine, and now I am stuck while my condition worsens.”
Some stranded travelers say they have been sleeping in mosques, braving cold nights with only a thin blanket.
“We are fasting, but we have no food for iftar,” said Nazarullah, another Afghan traveler. “I never slept in a mosque before, but now I have no choice.”
According to the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, more than 5,000 trucks loaded with perishable goods are stuck at the crossing. Afghan traders say that fruits and vegetables are rotting, while Pakistan is imposing a $120 daily fine per truck, increasing financial losses.
The closure began on February 22, after the Taliban started construction of border facilities on the Afghan side. Pakistan has demanded an immediate halt to the work, but the Taliban have not responded publicly.
With no resolution in sight, thousands of travelers and traders remain caught in the crisis, waiting for the crossing to reopen.
