Pakistan reopened the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan on Wednesday after 26 days of closure due to a dispute over a checkpoint built by Kabul.
Cargo trucks started moving again, and trade fully resumed by 4 pm. Afghan forces recently fired across the border, damaging the immigration system, so pedestrian travel will remain closed for at least two to three more days.
During the closure, local elders, religious scholars and business leaders held two meetings with an Afghan delegation. They suggested steps to rebuild trust and reopen the border. Pakistani representatives Malik Tajuddin and Shah Khalid Shinwari said they asked Afghan officials to agree to a ceasefire and stop building the checkpoint before the border could reopen.
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The decision to reopen the border came after these meetings, from both sides. Reports say the Afghan Taliban agreed to stop building the disputed checkpoint, which was Pakistan’s main demand. Then, officials from both countries held a meeting on Wednesday before allowing trade to restart.
Authorities called back customs staff to duty and began repairing the FIA scanner used for checking pedestrians. Once they fix it, people will be allowed to cross the border again.
For now, only Afghan patients needing urgent medical care can enter Pakistan, according to security officials.
With trade back to normal, Pakistani trucks have started entering Afghanistan, and Afghan trucks carrying goods have crossed into Pakistan. Security and government staff are at the border to ensure smooth operations.
Torkham is an important trade route, with around 1,500 cargo trucks passing daily. Customs officials say trade through Torkham adds about $3 million per day to Pakistan’s economy, and total daily trade between both countries is around $1.5 billion.
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