
Jirga brokers deal on Torkham reopening
Members of Pakistani delegation arrive after holding talks with the Afghan side on the opening of the Torkham border crossing. Photo: Express
The Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is set to reopen on Tuesday (today) after successful talks during a jirga between designated religious, political, and tribal elders from both sides, the head of the Pakistani delegation announced on Monday.
Pakistan delegation head Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi told The Express Tribune that the Afghan side also agreed to halt illegal construction, and both parties decided that any future construction at the disputed border point would only proceed with mutual consensus.
The Torkham border was closed on February 21 following rising tensions between the border forces of the two neighbouring countries due to unauthorized construction by Afghan authorities near the border, violating a prior agreement.
The situation escalated on March 4 when talks for reopening the crossing failed, leading to an exchange of fire between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban fighters. The clash resulted in the death of one Afghan border guard and injuries to two others.
The 24-day closure of the border had resulted in the suspension of all movements, affecting trade and travel. However, with the latest agreement, both sides appeared committed to resolving their differences and reopening the border for mutual benefit.
The latest round of talks was held at the Commissionery building on the Afghan side of the border. At the talks, the Pakistan side was led by Kazmi. "The two sides have agreed to the resumption of trade and people's crossing," Kazmi said.
"The Afghan side also agreed that illegal construction would also be halted on Afghan side, and the message of Islamabad would also be delivered to the authorities. The [Pak-Afghan] Joint Chamber of Commerce [JCC] has also agreed that the two sides would also stick to the ceasefire," he added.
The Afghan media also confirmed the reopening of the border from Tuesday (today). TOLO news reported on its website that the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) had announced the agreement on the reopening of the Torkham crossing.
"A meeting was held today in Torkham between both sides. The decisions made were positive, and it is likely that the crossing will reopen today or tomorrow," TOLOnews quotd a trader, Zalmai Azimi, as saying. "Torkham will reopen tomorrow [today] for all types of movement under this agreement."
Khaamapress, another Afghan media outlet, quoted officials from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment in Nangarhar as saying that traders and tribal elders from both countries had reached an agreement to reopen the Torkham border crossing on Tuesday (today).
"Following today's meeting, the Torkham border will officially reopen for transit tomorrow. This will allow free movement of goods and people across the border, bringing much-needed relief to the people who rely on this crossing for trade and travel," the report stated.
The Pakistani officials told The Express Tribune that all sorts of trade, including the transit trade, remained halted during the 24-day closure of the border. The cumulative losses to the national kitty because of the closure amounted to $72 million, an official said speaking on condition of anonymity.
The reopening of the border would be welcome news for approximately 2 million people on both sides who wanted to cross over ahead of the Eidul Fitr. According to the officials, 10,000 people cross the Torkham border point every day.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan economy witnesses stability: Tarar
LAHORE: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said the country's economy has witnessed stability due to prudent policies of the government. 'The government's entire focus is now on economy,' Tarar said, adding: 'Pakistan has achieved great success under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff.' Talking to media, Tarar said a befitting response was given to the Indian blatant aggression against Pakistan due to the comprehensive strategy of the Field Marshal. He said the friendly countries also extended full support to Pakistan during Pak-India tension. Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan has made significant progress at diplomatic front and the entire world acknowledged Pakistan's success. Regarding the Prime Minister's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, he termed it highly successful. He said the Prime Minister during the Eid days, held telephonic conversations with leaders of different Muslim countries and to extend them warm Eid greetings. He added the Prime Minister also telephoned political leadership of the country, including the Governors, the Chief Ministers and the Federal Ministers and extended warm Eid greetings to them. Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday held a telephonic conversation with Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain. The PM extended heartfelt Eid-ul-Azha greetings to the federal minister. He also conveyed special Eid wishes for Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He inquired about Chaudhry Shujaat's health and prayed for his swift recovery, expressing his sincere well wishes. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, in return, conveyed Eid-ul-Azha greetings to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and thanked him for his sentiments. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan likely to hike defence spending but slash overall budget in 2025-26
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will unveil its annual federal budget for the coming fiscal year later on Tuesday, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for an expected hike in defence expenditure following the conflict with India last month. Islamabad will also have to contend with remaining within the discipline of its International Monetary Fund programme and the uncertainty from new trade tariffs being imposed by the United States, its biggest export market. Media reports say the government is likely to present a 17.6 trillion rupee ($62.45 billion) budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, down 6.7% from this fiscal year. It has projected a fiscal deficit of 4.8% of GDP, against a targeted 5.9% deficit in 2024-25, the reports say. Analysts said they expect an increase of around 20% in the defence budget, likely offset by cuts in development spending. Pakistan allocated 2.1 trillion Pakistani rupees($7.45 billion) for defence in the outgoing fiscal year, including $2 billion for equipment and other assets. An additional 563 billion rupees ($1.99 billion) was set aside for military pensions, which are not counted within the official defence budget. India's defence spending in its 2025–26 (April-March) fiscal year was set at $78.7 billion, a 9.5% increase from the previous year, including pensions and $21 billion earmarked for equipment. It has indicated it will step up expenditure following the May conflict with Pakistan. The government of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has projected 4.2% economic growth in 2025-26, saying it has steadied the economy, which had looked at risk of defaulting on its debts as recently as 2023. Growth this fiscal year is likely to be 2.7%, against an initial target of 3.6% set in the budget last year. Economic Survey 2024-25: Pakistan misses growth target Pakistan's growth lags far behind the region. In 2024, South Asian countries grew by an average of 5.8% and 6.0% growth is expected in 2025, according to the Asian Development Bank. Rate cuts not enough Expansion of the economy should be aided by a sharp drop in the cost of borrowing, the government says, after a succession of interest rate cuts by the central bank. But economists warn that monetary policy alone may not be enough, with fiscal constraints and IMF-mandated reforms still weighing on investment. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday that he wanted to avoid Pakistan's boom and bust cycles of the past. 'The macroeconomic stability that we have achieved, we want to absolutely stay the course,' he said. 'This time around we are very, very clear that we do not want to squander the opportunity.' The budget is expected to prioritize expanding the tax base, enforcing agriculture income tax laws, and reducing government subsidies to industry, to meet the terms of a $7 billion IMF bailout signed last summer. Just 1.3% of the population paid income tax in 2024, according to the tax authorities, with agriculture and the retail sector largely outside of the tax net. The IMF has urged Pakistan to widen the tax base through reforms which include taxing agriculture, retail, and real estate. Ahmad Mobeen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said that he expected the revenue target for 2025-26 will be missed. 'The shortfall will mostly be owing to lack of optimal implementation of announced measures as well as absence of meaningful structural reforms to widen the tax net in general,' said Mobeen.


Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pak delegation interacts with Chatham House
LONDON: A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign minister and Chairman Pakistan People Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, engaged with eminent members of the British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the prestigious Chatham House, one of the UK's leading think tanks focused on foreign and security policy issues. The closed-door discussion was held under the 'Chatham House Rules,' which is used around the world to encourage inclusive and open dialogue in meetings. Bhutto Zardari and other delegation members conveyed Pakistan's perspective on the recent escalation in South Asia while expressing serious concern about India's unprovoked military aggression that resulted in civilian casualties and posed a significant threat to regional stability. They underscored that India's actions constituted a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter. The Pakistan delegation said that Pakistan's armed forces, with the full support of the people of Pakistan, had given a befitting response to India, demonstrating Pakistan's resolve to defend its sovereignty, and thwarting India's ambitions to set any new so-called 'normal' in the region. Bhutto Zardari strongly denounced India's unilateral and illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He warned that the weaponisation of water undermines international norms and sets a perilous precedent. He urged the international community to take notice of this alarming development and hold India to account for its actions. The delegation noted that the pending resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the principal stumbling block to lasting peace and stability in the region. They urged the international community to support meaningful dialogue and ensure respect for international commitments and human rights. The other members of the delegation include Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood Malik; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan; MQM's Parliamentary Leader in the Senate and former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, former Foreign secretaries, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani and Ambassador Tehmina Janjua. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal was also present during the round table conference. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025