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Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Torkham border remains shut despite agreement
The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, located in the Khyber district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), remained closed on Tuesday, as Afghan authorities delayed implementing the reopening decision agreed upon during a joint Jirga on Monday. Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, the head of the Pakistani delegation at the Jirga talks, said that the Afghan Jirga had requested time to seek final approval from Afghan authorities. However, despite 20 hours passing, no final decision had been conveyed. "We are still waiting for the Afghan Jirga to contact us, which has caused a delay in reopening the Torkham border," said Kazmi, who also serves as an adviser to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). The border was closed on February 21, after the Afghan forces attempted to construct a military checkpoint near Torkham. Pakistani Frontier Corps (FC) authorities objected to the construction because it was being built on the Pakistani territory. The situation escalated on March 4 after talks between the two sides for the reopening of the crossing failed and Pakistani security forces and Afghan Taliban fighters exchanged fire in which one Afghan border guard was killed and two others sustained injuries. From day one, Kazmi said, his effort was to end the tension and find a peaceful solution to the issue. Therefore, he added, he contacted the leaders of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce on March 6 and invited them to Torkham on March 9 for negotiations. "In the first successful session, the Joint Jirga agreed to an immediate ceasefire and a second session was scheduled for March 17. In the second round, Kazmi led a 36-member delegation for the talks with a 25-member Afghan delegation. "Yesterday, the Jirga agreed that there will be a ceasefire until the 15th day of Eidul Fitr [mid-April], and both countries will not carry out construction in the disputed areas," Kazmi said, adding that the issue of the controversial constructions would be taken up in the next meeting. Kazmi said that the Afghan Jirga had sought time to get the final opinion from higher authorities in Jalalabad and Kabul. "They have not informed us about the final decision of the Afghan authorities," Kazmi added. Khyber Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Wajid Ali Shinwari told The Express Tribune that the talks focused on a ceasefire and no construction on disputed sites on the border, adding that reopening of border was linked to these two points. "From the Pakistani side, we have agreed that no construction will be undertaken until the reopening [of the border] but they would take the matter to the governor of Nangarhar. The Nangarhar governor is still undecided and took the matter to Kabul, and until now, the Afghan side hasn't shown any interest." Though the border still remained shut, a ceasefire was still intact, while the construction had halted. "The Jirga can be termed successful because the ceasefire is intact and construction has also halted. The Afghan side pressed that border should be open, till 15th after Eid – the next meeting," Shinwari said. The Pakistani Jirga, however, remained optimistic about receiving a positive message from the Afghan side soon. They said that emergency consultations were under way between the Afghan Jirga and their authorities, while the Torkham crossing remains closed for the 25th consecutive day. Meanwhile, the border security officials from both sides were scheduled to meet at 9am Wednesday (today) to discuss and take the final decision regarding the reopening of the border. WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR PESHAWAR CORRESPONDENT SHAHBULLAH YOUSUFZAI)
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
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)
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-Afghan jirgas agree on ceasefire, reopening of Torkham border
People stand next to parked trucks loaded with supplies at the Torkham border crossing following a clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Photo: Reuters Listen to article A significant breakthrough occurred on Monday as Pakistani and Afghan jirgas reached a mutual agreement on a permanent ceasefire and the reopening of the Torkham border. The discussions, which took place in a joint meeting, resulted in an understanding to temporarily halt controversial construction activities on the Afghan side of the border. Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, leader of the Pakistani jirga, highlighted the importance of the meeting, calling it a turning point in defusing tensions between the two countries. He confirmed that both sides have agreed to suspend the disputed construction by Afghan forces, pending further consultations with Afghan authorities. The ongoing construction issue will be addressed in the next Joint Chamber of Commerce meeting, where a final decision on the matter will be made. In the meantime, trade routes through the Torkham border will remain open, ensuring uninterrupted cross-border commerce. The exact date for the Joint Chamber's session will be determined through mutual consultation, marking an important next step in resolving the long-standing issue. This agreement follows weeks of heightened tensions and clashes near the border.
