JALALABAD (SW) – Local authorities in Nangarhar report that Pakistan has closed the Torkham border crossing to all traffic.
Sayed Tayeb Hemad, spokesman for the Nangarhar Police Command, told Salam Watandar that Pakistani border guards shut down the crossing late Friday night.
He added that the closure came in response to the construction of several facilities along the border by the Islamic Emirate’s de-facto government in Afghanistan.
“The Pakistani side asked us to refrain from constructing facilities near the border and to avoid reacting to Pakistan’s construction efforts,” he explained.
On the other side, several travelers, patients, and truck drivers at Torkham are facing significant difficulties due to the closure.
Hamed, a patient’s companion who was on his way to Pakistan for treatment, is stranded at Torkham with his mother. He says, “My mother and I were going to Pakistan for her medication, but now the gate is closed. How long should we wait?”
Noor al-Haq, an Afghan businessman, urges both the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan to resolve the issue quickly. He adds, “It’s not just for one or two days; Pakistan closes the gate whenever they want. This harms businesses on both sides.”
Torkham is a crucial border crossing between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and South Asian countries. This crossing is often closed by Pakistan for various reasons.
