The Pakistan–Afghanistan Torkham border is expected to reopen today on humanitarian grounds.
Due to heightened border tensions, the major trade crossing has remained closed for 50 days. The closure has caused long queues of cargo trucks on both sides, leaving thousands of vehicles carrying import, export, and transit trade goods stranded.
According to customs officials, Pakistan exports cement, medicines, fruits, and vegetables to Afghanistan, while coal, as well as fresh and dried fruits, are imported from Afghanistan.
Customs sources say that the Torkham border facilitates bilateral trade worth an average of Rs850 million per day between the two countries.
Drivers stranded at the border say that there is no arrangement for food or drinking water, their expenses have run out, and many drivers have fallen ill due to the cold weather.
A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the United Nations has asked Pakistan to review its decision to close the Afghan border.
Addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, Dar said the Foreign Office received a request from the UN a day earlier. The foreign minister said the request sought a reconsideration of the closure and that Pakistan may allow essential food items for Afghan civilians after consultations with the national leadership. He expressed hope that approval for the humanitarian passage may come tomorrow.
Dar said that he would discuss the matter with the military leadership and the prime minister before Islamabad issues a formal response.
He said he completed three visits to Afghanistan and conveyed that neighbours cannot change their geography.
He said Pakistan informed the Afghan authorities that failure to address the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issue may create problems for them as well. He said Pakistan expects only one commitment from the Afghan interim government: that Afghan soil must not serve terrorism.
