Talks on reopening Torkham gate end inconclusively

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): A flag meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials at Torkham Zero Point has failed to reach any decision on the reopening of the crossing.

The two-hour meeting took place on Sunday afternoon when the border remained shut for the fifth consecutive day, with traders calling for an immediate end to the closure.

Afghan side negotiators were led by customs head Hafiz Asmatullah Yaqoobi, Qari Meraj and Maulvi Takal.

Commandant of Khyber Rifles Col. Asim Kiyani headed the Pakistani side, which also included Border Coordination Committee chief Lt- Col. Ahmad Mujtaba and others.

The Pakistani team said the Afghans could repair old security posts but could not build new ones near the Durand Line, one official told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The Afghan side once again urged Pakistani to reopen the main crossing to keep hundreds of truckloads of fresh fruits and vegetables from rotting, he said.

In response, the Pakistani team said the crossing would reopen only after approval from senior officials. “Frankly speaking, the talks ended inconclusively.”

The Afghan officials alleged Pakistani forces had resorted to firing on September 6 when they tried to build a new security post and rebuild an old one.

With the crossing shut for the past six days, trade and pedestrian movement between the neighbours has come to a halt.

The Foreign Ministry in Kabul has accused Islamabad of continuing to create problems for Afghan businesspeople at the Karachi port shutting the Torkham gate at the time of vegetable and fruit harvest.

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