ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal has demanded the authorities reopen the Torkham border, saying the closure was causing ‘hardships’ for people on either side.
Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal has demanded the authorities reopen the Torkham border, saying the closure was causing ‘hardships’ for people on either side.
“As part of the quick de-escalation of the prevailing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as agreed in our talks with the relevant Pak authorities a couple of days ago, Torkham, Spin Boldak and other crossing points should have reopened by now but unfortunately still remain shut,” the envoy said in a statement on Thursday.
“In fact, formal trade and transit crossing points between our two countries, under no circumstances, should have been closed in the first place, both as per Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement (APTTA) and also Afghanistan’s land-locked country transit right as per international rules,” he added.
Zakhilwal expressed hope that the Pakistan military would open the border “without causing further hardships”.
Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring the militants who have carried out the most recent attacks in the country.