Afghanistan criticizes unjustified Torkham border closure by Pakistan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, in response to the closure of the Torkham border crossing for the fifth consecutive day, has said that Pakistan’s closure of the Torkham crossing for “unjustifiable reasons” goes against all previous agreements, customary international law and regulations.
In a statement on Sunday, the ministry reported that the border crossing had been closed due to an incident where Pakistani military personnel fired upon security forces conducting repairs on a post.
The Afghan government expresses grave concern and a sense of distrust over the Pakistani government’s decision to halt hundreds of containers of Afghan goods at Karachi port, citing “sensitive lists.” This situation has escalated tensions and resulted in the burning a truckload of figs at the Waga port in Baluchistan, Pakistan.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns these actions for causing financial losses, creating divisions, and leaving stranded travellers, including women, patients, and children, on both sides of Torkham, deeming them unjustifiable.
According to this ministry, Pakistan’s closure of the Torkham border crossing under the pretext of “unjustifiable reasons” coincides with the arrival of Afghan agricultural products and fruits, which goes against all previous agreements, customary law, and commitments under international laws.
The statement added that such actions by Pakistan, in addition to affecting Afghanistan’s trade and the regional economy, which now “relies more on exports,” will harm the national economy of that country.
The Torkham border crossing was closed Thursday following skirmishes between Afghan and Pakistani border forces.
Meanwhile, these clashes, along with the closure of the Torkham border crossing and the resulting financial losses, led to the death of four Afghan children, two Taliban forces and two Pakistani military personnel.
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