LANDI KOTAL: Trade resumed at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday, six days after it was closed by Taliban authorities, JEE News reported on Sunday, citing officials.
The Torkham border crossing was reopened to traffic at 6 a.m. Saturday, Afghan customs official Muslim Khaksar said at the site in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
He said that the border is now open for ordinary citizens as well as traders from both sides.
Customs official Tamash Khan told JEE News that after receiving orders from Islamabad, they reopened Torkham, the main transit point for passengers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan.
More than 5,000 loaded trucks are stuck at the border, he said, adding that they are facilitating traffic flow despite heavy rush at the border crossing.
The official said that trade worth Rs 5,000 million with Afghanistan could not take place last week due to the closure of the border. He said that goods worth 400 million rupees are exported to Afghanistan daily through Torkham border. Traffic jammed on the road from Ali Masjid to Landi Kotal due to large number of trucks and other vehicles.
Drivers and transporters were happy to hear the news of the re-opening of the border, they thanked Pakistan for this decision.
Torkham customs officials said they have formed four lines of loaded trucks that will enter Afghanistan. Officials said they have deployed additional personnel to regulate the movement of vehicles.
“Trucks loaded with rice, cement, construction materials, medicines and other food items were sent to Afghanistan,” a Pakistani customs official said, adding that trucks loaded with coal, vegetables and fruits went the other way.
JEE News reported from the border that hundreds of people from both countries passed through the crossing on Saturday after being stranded for several days.
Afghan authorities abruptly closed the border last Sunday after Pakistani officials allowed an Afghan patient to enter the country, but asked colleagues to bring legal travel documents.
Later, the Afghan border security forces also opened fire and injured a Pakistani soldier at the Ayub checkpoint located on the top of the hill near the border.
