RASC News Agency: The local officials of the Taliban group in Nangarhar province have reported that the border police of Pakistan have recently closed the Torkham border crossing to Afghanistani patients who do not possess a valid visa. This decision was announced by the Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Nangarhar province, stating that since December 1st, patients without visas are not permitted to enter Pakistan through the Torkham crossing.
Previously, patients without passports and visas were allowed to travel to Pakistan for medical treatment only after obtaining a certificate from the health commission of the Taliban group in Nangarhar. However, the recent closure of the Torkham border crossing has disrupted this arrangement. In response, the local officials of the Taliban group in Nangarhar province have advised individuals with the health commission’s approval to refrain from attempting to cross the Torkham border until further notice.
It is worth noting that the Torkham border crossing, which holds significant importance as a key entry point for the country, has experienced multiple closures in the past due to conflicts between Pakistani border guards and the Taliban forces. Despite the challenges faced by the health sector in Afghanistan, including the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on international organizations, Afghanistani patients have long relied on neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, for medical treatment due to the inadequate healthcare facilities and shortage of skilled doctors in their own country. To address the strain on the healthcare system, the Pakistani government had previously announced plans to train 1,000 Afghanistani doctors through a local technology company.
