Pakistan and Afghanistan have reopened the Torkham border crossing after almost a month of closure following violent clashes between security forces on both sides. Officials confirmed that the critical trade and transit route resumed commercial traffic on Wednesday (March 19), while pedestrian movement will resume on Friday (March 21).
Riaz Khan Mehsud, the spokesperson for the government of Pakistan, said both nations agreed to reinstate transit trade. Spokesperson Qureshi Badlon of the Nangarhar provincial media department of Afghanistan verified that usual border operations would be resumed.
The Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was closed on February 21 amid increased tensions that escalated into gun battles. Both sides launched mortar and rocket attacks after Afghan troops allegedly resisted Pakistan’s building of a border post.
The extended shutdown caused severe economic and humanitarian distress. With thousands of trucks filled with vital supplies stuck, food-short Afghanistan, which relies heavily on Pakistani imports of wheat, flour, and fresh fruits and vegetables, was hit by a deepening food crisis.
Pakistani entrepreneur Ghulam Ali pointed out the economic toll, saying, “The long closure caused losses of millions of dollars for exporters and traders.” Perishable items were hardest hit, inflicting serious financial losses.
Economic Significance of Torkham Border
Pakistan and Afghanistan’s bilateral trade totalled over $1.6 billion in 2024, says the Pakistan Foreign Office. The Torkham crossing alone is responsible for daily trade worth around $3 million and has up to 10,000 people crossing daily.
Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a member of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was positive about the complete resumption of movement, saying normal pedestrian traffic will resume in the near future.
Continued Tense Relations Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue even after the reopening. Pakistan has complained about cross-border attacks by militants, while the Taliban-ruled government of Afghanistan has opposed Islamabad’s attempts to tighten up security along the frontier.
Although trade has officially reopened, diplomatic tension still persists. As a result, the reopening of Torkham might not immediately ease the underlying geopolitical tensions.
