Peshawar, March 19, 2025: Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened the Torkham border crossing on Wednesday, nearly a month after its closure due to clashes between security forces on both sides, officials confirmed.
According to Pakistan government official Riaz Khan Mehsud, the key trade route will initially reopen for commercial activities, while pedestrian crossings will resume on Friday. Afghanistan’s Nangarhar media department head, Qureshi Badlon, also confirmed that both sides had agreed to restore transit trade.
The border was shut on February 21 following violent skirmishes, during which both sides exchanged mortar and rocket fire after Afghan forces objected to Pakistan’s construction of a border outpost.
The prolonged closure had led to severe trade disruptions, leaving truckloads of essential supplies stranded, primarily affecting Afghanistan, which is grappling with a humanitarian and food crisis. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, bilateral trade between the two nations exceeded $1.6 billion in 2024.
