On Saturday, after being closed for a month, the Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has finally reopened for pedestrians.
According to officials, thousands of people on both sides lined up to cross the gate as soon as it opened.
Due to disagreements between Pakistani and Afghan security forces over construction activities on both sides, the border was shut down all of sudden on February 21.
The situation worsened earlier this month when two people got injured including six forces personnels as a result of gunfight between two forces.
Afghan officials report that thousands of people were trapped on both sides of the border due to the closure which caused severe congestion.
As heavy traffic is causing hassle, the head of the Nangarhar province information department in Afghanistan is advising people to wait for two or three days.
Pakistani officials confirmed that only Afghan nationals with valid visas and passports and patients in serious condition were permitted to cross the border as per the old procedure. Afghan Tazkira (ID card) holders were allowed previously to enter the border but now Pakistan is only allowing those with passports and visas.
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Officials said that about 100 patients and one attendant per patient are permitted daily to enter Pakistan without travel documents, especially those in need of cancer treatment.
On March 17, a joint jirga of elders and traders from both sides brokered a deal that included reopening of the border, a ceasefire and a suspension of new check post construction on the Afghan side.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said on March 13 that Afghanistan had carried out illegal construction within Pakistani territory at two points along the border.
On the other hand, Afghan Taliban officials accused Pakistan of building towers illegally. Pakistani officials clarified that these towers were part of the border terminal to facilitate traders and patients.
Due to rising tensions, In Kabul on Saturday Pakistan’s Special Representative to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi concluded a meeting. In which both officials discussed matters of mutual interest, political and economic cooperations. Mohammed Sadiq also promised in the meeting that Pakistan would take steps to ease visa processes for Afghans and improve trade and transit.
