RASC News Agency: Sources within the Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Investment report that negotiations between Afghanistani and Pakistani tribal elders and business representatives regarding the reopening of the Torkham border crossing have concluded without a resolution. According to sources, the meeting took place today Sunday, March 9, on the Pakistani side of the Torkham crossing, bringing together traders and tribal leaders from both nations. However, no representatives from the Taliban or the Pakistani government were present, although the participants had reportedly attended with the consultation of both sides.
During the discussions, Afghanistani tribal elders and business leaders urged Pakistan to end hostilities and reopen the Torkham crossing unconditionally. They further called on Islamabad to separate politics from commerce, emphasizing that political disputes should not be used as grounds for future border closures. Conversely, Pakistani tribal elders and traders requested that the Taliban halt construction of infrastructure near the Durand Line until the tenth day of Eid al-Fitr, citing security concerns. Both delegations agreed to present these demands to the respective authorities in Pakistan and the Taliban administration and reconvene in two days to share the outcomes.
Pakistan shut down the Torkham border crossing 16 days ago in response to Taliban-led construction activities along the border. The closure has left hundreds of freight trucks, passengers, and medical patients stranded on both sides of the frontier. The Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Investment previously estimated that each day of closure results in financial losses of approximately $500,000 for Afghanistani traders. Since the shutdown, Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards have engaged in at least three armed confrontations, further escalating tensions.
As one of Afghanistan’s most vital trade corridors, the prolonged closure of Torkham has disrupted supply chains and driven up the prices of essential goods in Afghanistani markets, exacerbating economic pressures on the population.
