Afghanistan Peace CampaignDue to the ongoing closure, hundreds of passengers and patients remain stranded on both sides of the crossing.
Local officials in Nangarhar say that the Torkham crossing remains closed to passenger traffic today due to technical issues on the other side of the hypothetical Durand Line.
Two days ago, following an agreement between the two sides, the crossing was reopened for transit only, and it was scheduled to reopen for all types of movement today (Friday, March 21).
Sayed Tayeb Hamad, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Police Command, stated: “Torkham gate is currently open only for transit. According to the agreement, it was supposed to reopen today for passengers and patients as well. However, the equipment that had broken down on the Pakistani side has not yet been fully repaired. Work is ongoing, and once it’s fully restored, the crossing will be opened for passengers and patients.”
Due to the ongoing closure, hundreds of passengers and patients remain stranded on both sides of the crossing. They are calling for the immediate reopening of the crossing for regular travel.
Anis-ur-Rahman, one of the stranded passengers, said: “We were hoping the road would open today. Thousands of passengers and patients are waiting on both sides of the crossing. Due to the closure, they haven’t been able to return home. Our request is for this road to remain open permanently.”
Another passenger, Umair, said: “Pashtuns live on both sides of the crossing. It is only the hypothetical Durand Line that separates them. These people want to return to their homes for Eid.”
The Torkham crossing was closed nearly a month ago by Pakistani forces after Islamic Emirate forces on the Afghan side began constructing facilities near the hypothetical Durand Line.