ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday allowed the resumption of pedestrian movement at the Torkham crossing with Kabul for six days a week, to ensure ease of travel and reduced waiting time for cross-border travelers, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special representative for Afghanistan said.
“Torkham (border) crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now open 6 days a week for the pedestrian traffic,” Mohammad Sadiq tweeted on Monday.
“It will reduce the waiting time for travelers on the border significantly. Facilities are being further improved to ensure ease of travel between the two countries,” he added.
The Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now open 6 days a week for the pedestrian traffic. It will reduce the waiting time for travellers on the border significantly. Facilities are being further improved to ensure ease of travel between the two countries.
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) February 15, 2021
Torkham is a major border crossing and the main trade link between the two neighboring countries, with several highways from capital cities Kabul and Islamabad passing through it.
Resumption of pedestrian movement at Torkham follows the extension of the Transit Trade Agreement for another three months, based on a request from Afghanistan, Sadiq said in a separate tweet on Sunday.
“We hope that negotiations on the new transit trade agreement will be concluded in 3 months. Economic diplomacy should lead bilateral relations bet the two states,” he wrote.
On request of Afghan govt, Pakistan has decided to extend the current Transit Trade Agreement for another 3 months. We hope that negotiations on the new transit trade agreement will be concluded in 3 months. Economic diplomacy should lead bilateral relations bet the two states.
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) February 14, 2021
In recent months, Pakistan has taken steps to enhance bilateral trade with Afghanistan and facilitate transit trade activities.
In July last year, all main border crossings — at Chaman in Balochistan, and Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — were reopened. Afghan overland exports to India through Pakistan’s Wagah border were allowed to resume on July 15, 2020.
The measures are a part of efforts by Pakistan’s government to reopen the economy, largely closed down in March last year over coronavirus fears.
