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Pakistan-Afghanistan: Crucial Torkham border crossing reopens after 10 days

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 15 Sep 2023, 06:54 am Print

Pakistan-Afghanistan: Crucial Torkham border crossing reopens after 10 days Torkham border

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

After remaining closed for ten days following a clash between Afghanistan and Pakistani security forces, creating trouble for people from both sides, the Torkham border reopened on Friday.

Pedestrian movement has begun following the resumption of traffic at the border with hundreds of travellers flocking to its immigration section for entry into Afghanistan, reports Geo News.

According to reports, the clash between the two sides occurred after a dispute arose over the "illegal construction" of a bunker by the interim Afghanistan government on the Pakistani side of the border.

The Pakistani Foreign Office on September 11 said Islamabad cannot accept the construction of any structures by the interim Afghan government inside its territory since these violate its sovereignty.

The crossing is considered to be crucial for trade and people movement between the two neighbouring nations.

Traders from both nations complained that their perishable goods were damaged since borders remained closed for 10 days.

Some Afghanistani nationals said they missed hospital appointments for the same reason.

The decision to open the border came after Acting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met the Head of the Pakistan Mission in Kabul, Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani.

In the meeting, the Afghan authorities assured Pakistan that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan. Sources, privy to the decision, said the decision to reopen the border came after this meeting, reports Geo News.