The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a vital conduit for trade, was reopened on Tuesday following successful negotiations between the two countries.
The crossing had been closed since January 12, after Pakistan implemented stricter controls requiring drivers to possess visas and passports, a documentation requirement challenging for many Afghans.
This border closure was part of Islamabad’s broader efforts to regulate cross-border movements, amidst escalating tensions with the Taliban government in Kabul.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban of not effectively tackling militants responsible for attacks within Pakistan, a claim consistently denied by Kabul.
A Pakistan border official, speaking anonymously, confirmed to the media the reopening of the border, allowing hundreds of trucks that had been waiting to cross.
The official stated that a temporary agreement allows Pakistani and Afghan drivers to cross the border without a visa and passport until March 31. However, starting April 1, these documents will become mandatory.
Pakistani officials have indicated that the heightened trade restrictions and intermittent border closures serve as a strategy to pressure the Taliban government into collaborating on security matters.
According to a senior provincial government official in Peshawar, continued reluctance by the Taliban to take a firm stance against the TTP could result in further trade disruptions.
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