RASC News Agency: The local authorities in Nangarhar province, representing the Taliban group, have recently made an announcement regarding the reopening of the Torkham crossing. This crossing, which had been blocked for a period of 11 days, is now accessible to trucks. Abdul Basir Zabuli, the spokesperson for the Taliban security command in Nangarhar province, informed the media that discussions between the two parties led to the decision to reopen the crossing on Tuesday morning, January 23rd.
Truck drivers and patients are now able to travel to Pakistan through the Torkham crossing without the need for passports or visas, as stated by officials from the Taliban group in Nangarhar province. It is worth mentioning that the closure of the crossing on January 13th was attributed to a dispute over drivers’ visas and passports. Pakistani media outlets initially reported that efforts to reopen the crossing had been unsuccessful, with the Taliban group even warning Pakistan about the possibility of a permanent closure.
Conversely, Pakistani media, citing a customs official, expressed concerns about the potential long-term consequences of the Torkham crossing’s closure. They highlighted the risk of Pakistan losing the Afghanistan market due to the increase in trade between Tehran and Kabul. The Torkham crossing is a vital and busy route, and its closure has occurred in the past due to various reasons, such as border conflicts or political issues.
