ISLAMABAD — Taliban and Pakistani officials began negotiations on Wednesday at the Torkham border crossing, aiming to resolve border clashes and reopen the key trade route, which has been closed for 27 days.
Pakistani media had initially reported that the meeting would take place on the Pakistani side of the border, but it was later confirmed that talks were being held inside Afghanistan, at the Torkham customs building.
The Pakistani delegation is led by Asim Kayani, a senior border commander, while Taliban officials have not yet commented on the meeting.
Ongoing deadlock over border outposts
This latest meeting follows failed negotiations on Monday (March 17), when Afghan and Pakistani delegates met but were unable to reach an agreement.
According to sources who spoke to Amu TV, Afghan representatives requested additional time to consult Taliban leadership, while the Taliban continued building new border outposts—a major point of dispute with Pakistani authorities.
The closure has resulted in significant financial losses for traders on both sides, with 35 representatives from Pakistan and 25 from Afghanistan participating in the previous round of negotiations.
Khan Jan Alokozai, a board member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, expressed frustration over the stalemate.
“We told both governments that keeping this crossing closed is creating major problems and urged them to reopen it,” Alokozai said. “The Pakistani side insisted that border outpost construction was the issue and that work must stop. We explained that this is a government matter, and we are not Taliban representatives. When we relayed this to the governor of Nangarhar, he said he would need instructions from higher leadership.”
The prolonged closure has left thousands of travelers and traders stranded, increasing frustration and economic hardship.
The blockade is widely seen as a sign of worsening tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, with both sides refusing to back down. Intermittent border clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters have resulted in casualties on both sides, further complicating efforts to reopen the crossing.
