RASC News Agency: The Pakistani media outlet Geo News reported on Tuesday, January 16, that the negotiations between Taliban authorities and Pakistani officials concerning the reopening of the Torkham border crossing have yielded no results. According to the report, the Taliban delegation in this meeting expressed that the suspension of commercial activities goes against social and international norms. They emphasized the resumption of vehicular and pedestrian traffic across the border as another critical issue.
Geo News stated that Taliban officials characterized the postponement of commercial activities at the Torkham crossing, without prior warning, as a measure contrary to social and international norms. They added that such actions would intensify tensions between the two parties, impacting traders, patients, and other citizens. On Sunday, January 13, Pakistani border authorities blocked the Torkham crossing for the transit of Afghanistani merchant trucks. The meeting held to resolve this issue between Taliban representatives and Pakistani officials, according to Geo News, remained inconclusive. It is noteworthy that Pakistani authorities have adopted a new policy for the passage of vehicles through the Torghundi crossing, stipulating that drivers can only transit with a visa and passport.
Drivers lacking these documents are prohibited from using the crossing. Geo News, citing Taliban officials, reported that the sudden closure of the border, without prior notice, may compel the Taliban to construct a permanent wall at the Torkham border crossing. This unfolds at a time when, according to Taliban officials, 90% of Afghanistani drivers and patients currently lack passports due to the group’s limited access to resources for passport issuance.
