PESHAWAR: Pakistan temporarily reopened a busy border crossing on its frontier with Afghanistan in the northwest on Friday following a clash between the security forces on the two sides to facilitate pedestrian movement, confirmed officials and customs clearing agents.
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime shut down the Torkham border, the main trade link between the two neighboring countries, last weekend while blaming Islamabad for not abiding by an agreement to let Afghan patients and their caretakers cross over without travel documents for medical care. The Afghan Taliban and Pakistani border guards exchanged fire on Monday which wounded a Pakistani soldier.
A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by the country’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, visited Kabul to hold talks on security issues with the top Taliban leadership at a time when relations between the two states have come under tremendous strain. Following the talks, Torkham was reopened by the Taliban forces on Thursday but was closed again due to “administrative issues.”
Ghuncha Gul, an official in Khyber tribal district, told Arab News a meeting between the border officials of both countries was held on Friday to sort out differences and remove any misunderstandings.
“Today at 3pm, pedestrians were allowed to cross the border from both sides,” he said. “A meeting of a 10-member committee, five from each side, lasted for about three hours and reached an agreement to reopen the border temporarily to minimize the woes of travelers.”
Gul informed the border was only reopened for pedestrians but remained closed for trade. He added a sequel of the meeting was also likely tomorrow, Saturday, to discuss all outstanding border issues.
Asghar Ali, a Pakistani custom clearing agent at Torkham, told Arab News thousands of men and women, including patients, had been stranded at the border for days while truckloads of fruits and vegetables had also been perishing due to delay on both sides to reopen the trade route.
“The closure of Torkham has inflicted heavy financial losses on traders as hundreds of loaded trucks are still stranded on both sides,” he continued. “Passengers, especially women and children, have also been suffering.”
A similar situation was also described on the other side of the frontier by an Afghan custom official.
“Heavy trucks and containers loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, and juices remained parked along the roadside and ultimately perished,” Ghulam Nabi Toor, who deals with the trade movement on the Afghan side of the border, told Arab News over the phone. “We are really fed up of this frequent border tussle that leads to its closure and reopening.”
“Both countries need to find a permanent solution to the problems, but it seems impossible,” he continued.
Pakistan has not recognized the Taliban government in Kabul since it took control of the neighboring country in August 2021, though it has allowed Afghan patients to get medical treatment in its hospitals while also trying to enhance bilateral trade.
Pakistan temporarily reopens Torkham border for pedestrians, keeps it closed for trade
https://arab.news/2d6h6
Pakistan temporarily reopens Torkham border for pedestrians, keeps it closed for trade
- Pakistani official says the border was reopened after a meeting between government functionaries on both sides
- Customs clearing agents say border closure has brought suffering to traders who have incurred significanf losses
Afghanistan fires at Pakistani jets over Kabul as conflict intensifies
- Violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan this week Pakistan says targeted militant infrastructure
- Pakistan says operation against Afghan forces ongoing, security forces destroyed Afghan posts, camps
KABUL: Afghanistan said it was firing at Pakistani jets in Kabul after blasts and gunfire rocked the capital on Sunday, compounding instability in a region rattled by US–Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on US targets in Gulf states.
The Taliban-ruled state has suffered Pakistani strikes against government installations over the past week following accusations, which it denies, that it harbors militants.
The heaviest fighting in years between the neighbors has raised fears of a protracted conflict along their 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border, with several countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia calling for restraint and offering to help mediate a ceasefire.
Explosions echoed across parts of Kabul before sunrise, followed by bursts of gunfire, a Reuters witness said. It was not clear what had been targeted or whether there were casualties.
Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the sounds were the result of Afghan forces targeting Pakistani aircraft over the capital.
“Air defense attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents should not be concerned,” Mujahid said.
Pakistan’s prime minister’s office, information ministry and military did not respond to requests for comment.
The violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan this week that Pakistan said targeted militant infrastructure. Afghanistan described the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and announced retaliatory operations along their shared border.
Iran, which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, had offered to help facilitate dialogue before itself coming under attack on Saturday from Israel and the US bent on diminishing Iran’s military capability.
ACCUSATION AND ESCALATION
Pakistan has said Afghanistan harbors Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, which it said are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan.
Afghanistan has denied the accusation, saying it does not allow Afghan territory to be used against other countries and that Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal matter.
Pakistani security sources have said operation “Ghazab Lil Haq,” meaning “Wrath for the Truth,” was ongoing and that Pakistani forces had destroyed Afghan posts and camps.
Both sides have reported heavy losses, issuing differing casualty figures for each other.
Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
Diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the European Union and United Nations urging restraint and calling for talks.
The US said it supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself.
Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the fighting as “open war.”
Afghanistan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said the conflict would be “very costly.” He said only front-line forces were engaged in fighting that the country has yet to fully deploy its military.
