Landi Kotal:
The Torakham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan will open again on Tuesday (today) after successful conversations during a jirga among the designated, political and tribal elders designated on both sides, announced on Monday the head of the Paquistanà delegation.
The head of the Pakistan delegation, Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, told Express PAkGazette that the Afghan side also agreed to stop illegal construction, and both parties decided that any future construction in the disputed border point would only proceed with mutual consensus.
The Torkham border was closed on February 21 after the growing tensions between the border forces of the two neighboring countries due to the construction not authorized by the Afghan authorities near the border, violating an earlier agreement.
The situation intensified on March 4 when the conversations to reopen the crossing failed, which led to an exchange of fire between the Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban combatants. The clash resulted in the death of an Afghan border guard and injuries to two others.
The closure of 24 days of the border had resulted in the suspension of all movements, affecting trade and travel. However, with the last agreement, both parties seemed committed to solving their differences and reopening the edge for mutual benefit.
The last round of conversations was carried out in the commissioned building on the Afghan side of the border. In conversations, Pakistan’s team was led by Kazmi. “The two parties have agreed to the resumption of trade and the crossing of people,” Kazmi said.
“The Afghan side also agreed that illegal construction would also stop on the Afghan side, and Islamabad’s message would also be delivered to the authorities. The authorities. [Pak-Afghan] Joint Chamber of Commerce [JCC] He has also agreed that the two parties would also keep the fire, “he added.
The Afghan media also confirmed the reopening of the border since Tuesday (today). Tolo News reported on its website that the Chamber of Commerce and Investment of Afghanistan (ACCI) had announced the agreement on the reopening of Torkham Crossing.
“Today a meeting in Torkham was held between both sides. The decisions taken were positive, and the crossing is likely to be reopened today or tomorrow,” said Tolonews, a merchant, Zalmai Azimi. “Torkham will open tomorrow [today] for all types of movement under this agreement. “
Khaamapss, another Afghan media, summoned officials of the Chamber of Commerce and investment in Nangarhar saying that merchants and tribal elders in both countries had reached an agreement to reopen the Torakham border crossing on Tuesday (today).
“After today’s meeting, Torkham’s border will officially reopen for transit tomorrow. This will allow the free circulation of goods and people on the other side of the border, bringing a very necessary relief to the people who trust in this cross for trade and travel,” the report said.
Pakistani officials told Express PAkGazette that all types of trade, including traffic trade, remained detained during the closure of 24 days of the border. The cumulative losses for the national kitten due to the closure amounted to $ 72 million, an official said speaking on condition of anonymity.
The reopening of the border would be good news for approximately 2 million people on both sides who wanted to cross before Eidul Fitr. According to officials, 10,000 people cross Torkham’s border point every day.
(With news desktop information)
