JALALABAD (SW): After the closure for over a month, the Torkham crossing point with Pakistan was re-opened for public and trade on Tuesday.
Qaseem Shinwar, officer of the Afghan Border Police (ABP) in Torkham, told Salam Watandar the gates were opened at around 6 O’clock in the morning. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor in Nangarhar, has said the crossing point has been opened for indefinite period.
On Monday, Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities to immediately re-open all the crossing points with Afghanistan. In a statement, he said the decision to re-open the border is being taken as closure of the border for a long time in the backdrop of, religious, culture and historical ties between the two countries would not be in the interest of the people and the economy.
He said the decision to re-open the border is being taken as a goodwill gesture. Trade communities on both sides, however, lamented the daily losses of up to $ 4 million while the crossing points were closed.
ENDS
