Afghanistan-Pakistan Torkham Gate Reopens Conditionally after Negotiations
On Friday, a Media centre in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province posted on Twitter that The Torkham gate has been reopened conditionally after negotiations between the Afghan-Pakistani officials.
The statement added, “Only Afghan travellers will be allowed to enter the country from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistani travellers will be allowed from Afghanistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.
The implication from the remark is that transit and other travellers are not affected by the conditional reopening.
“Negotiations are going on to allow passengers and transit on both sides; however, Afghan citizens are advised to refrain from going to Torkham until further notification,” read the statement.
On Thursday, Pakistani officials closed the border crossing with Afghanistan and added that Pakistan could not make the border crossing “completely functioning due to administrative issues”.
Earlier this week, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan closed the Torkham gate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of breaching its commitments.
The closure of the crossing border came after an exchange of fire occurred on Monday, a day after the Pakistani troops did not allow the movement of Afghan patients for medical treatment while pledging to allow them without valid travel documents.
Following the incident, on February 22, a high Pakistani delegation visited Kabul to discuss security issues, particularly ISSI and TTP militants and strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
In the meeting, the Pakistani delegation was informed that it was Pakistan’s responsibility to provide all “necessary facilities” for travellers at Torkham and another crossing farther south, Spin Boldak, as well as unique facilities for the transportation of patients in need of emergency medical care.
Recently, the relations between the Afghan Taliban-led government and Pakistan have deteriorated due to the deterioration of security in Pakistan.
Pakistani officials accused Afghan Taliban of supporting and providing hideout for TTP in the country. At the same time, the Taliban has refused any allegation and reiterated that they would not allow anyone to use Afghan grounds against Pakistan or any other neighbouring nations.
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