Torkham crossing reopens after 4 days of closure

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The Torkham crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopened on Thursday for pedestrian movement and trade.

The gate was reopened at 9am in the presence of officials from both countries, reported the state-run Bakhtar News Agency, which gave no further details

Hours after high-level meetings between top officials from the two countries in Kabul, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad said the crossing would reopen today.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif held tension-defusing talks with Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his Afghan counterpart Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob in Kabul.

Following negotiations, the embassy said, the two sides agreed the key land route would be reopened today for travellers, including patients, and transit trade.

The key crossing in eastern Nangarhar province was shut on Sunday when local officials blamed Pakistan for failing to honour its commitments regarding entry to the ailing Afghan nationals.

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