Torkham border reopens after Pak-Afghan border row defused
Sources stated that construction of gate would continue
TORKHAM (Dunya News/AFP) – Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been opened for travelers on Saturday after six days of tensions and curfew owing to clash over construction of a gate.
Pakistan security forces have greeted the consensus over the issue by forwarding pleasantries including dates and mangoes to Afghan troops.
Long queues of vehicles and thousands of passer-bys were stranded since Sunday night after Afghanistan opened unprovoked fire claiming life of a major, Ali Jawad Changezi and injuring over ten.
Curfew was imposed in Landi Kotal market and surrounding areas to protect civilians who were in the crosshairs of shelling by Afghan troops.
Stranded people move towards their destination after the development surfaced
Pakistan Army retaliated and gave a befitting response however, civil leadership of both the countries agreed that the issue must be resolved through talks.
Army had started building a gate some 37 metres within Pakistan’s territory to maintain a check on the travelers and end movement of banned outfits’ operatives in Pakistan through Torkham. Afghanistan claimed that the construction was against some understandings between the two sides.
Ambassadors of the both the countries were summoned and lodged protests with.
However, third round of flag meeting last night was successful after which the border was opened at 8:12 am today.
Pakistan Army has declared possession of identity documents compulsory to cross the border. Sources stated that construction of gate would continue.
The spokesman for the governor of the Afghan province of Nangarhar, Ataullah Khogyani, confirmed the reopening of the border saying it happened after "days of negotiations" between the two sides.
A Pakistani official who declined to be named told AFP that the border had reopened and "the construction work on the gate has also resumed".
Pakistan s foreign ministry spokesman posted a message on Twitter saying: "Only passport holders allowed from Afghan side."
The new requirement will affect thousands of people who formerly crossed the busy border post without travel documents.
Different terror attacks in Pakistan were believed to be planned in Afghanistan and executed by militants who entered through Torkham.
Bacha Khan University was one of the many such attacks which claimed at least 21 lives including a PhD professor. The university in Charsadda was attacked on January 20.
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