Afghanistan Peace CampaignHowever, some passengers and traders are calling for an immediate resolution to the issue and the reopening of the crossing.
Pakistan shut down the Torkham crossing last night, halting all movement.
Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Torkham commissioner, told TOLOnews that the Pakistani side closed the gate after Islamic Emirate forces on the Afghan side were engaged in construction activities.
Regarding the issue, the Torkham commissioner said: “Whenever we build facilities, they close the route. We tell them, if you don’t allow us to construct facilities, then you shouldn’t build them either.”
However, some passengers and traders are calling for an immediate resolution to the issue and the reopening of the crossing.
Noor-ul-Haq, who is with a patient at Torkham, told TOLOnews: “One of our patients is here, and we are not allowed to take them to Peshawar for treatment. Another one of our patients has passed away on the other side, and Pakistan is not permitting us to bring back the body because the gate has been closed since yesterday.”
Abdullah, one of the travelers stuck at Torkham, told TOLOnews: “We arrived at Torkham at 8:30 in the morning. We have a bride with us. Half of our family is stuck here, and the other half is on the other side because the gate is closed.”
Anwar Khan, a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said: “Our request is for both sides to sit down and resolve this issue through dialogue. There are many children and women facing difficulties here; they should be allowed to pass.”
Previously, due to clashes between Pakistani military forces and Islamic Emirate forces, not only the Torkham crossing but also the Ghulam Khan crossing in Khost and the Kharlachi crossing in Paktia have been repeatedly closed and reopened.