January 18, 2024
1 min read

Truck Drivers Seek to Reopen Torkham Border Crossing

The drivers said that they have suffered severe economic losses….reports Asian Lite News

Truck drivers have urged the Taliban and Pakistan to sit for negotiations and facilitate the immediate reopening of the Torkham border crossing, TOLO News reported.

Notably, the Torkham crossing has remained blocked for three consecutive days.

The drivers said that they have suffered severe economic losses.

A truck driver, Jabar Momand, said: “We want them to bring facilities in the issuance of visas. Pakistan wants a passport and also a visa. The issuance of visas is difficult.”

“It has been three days since the Torkham crossing was closed. We have fresh fruits which we want to transfer to Pakistan,” another driver said.

Officials within the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that Pakistan closed the gate as the Afghan drivers lacked visas. However, they stressed that truck drivers with electronic ID cards should be allowed to cross the crossing.

“We believe that the closure of Torkham crossing affects both sides and we want to have trade with the neighbouring and regional countries,” said deputy head of the ACCI Mohammad Younus Momand.

“We want the Taliban, particularly, Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, to travel to Pakistan and find a solution for the problem which we always face,” said Zalmai Azemi, a trader.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber called Pakistan’s decision unilateral and said that a mechanism should be formed in transit and trade between Kabul and Islamabad, as per TOLO News.

The chief executive officer of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber, Naqibullah Safi, said: “This is a unilateral decision. Kabul and Islamabad should form a mechanism that should be implemented.”

This comes as Hasibullah Gardezi, head of Paktia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told TOLO News that Kharlasi Gate in Dand-e-Patan district has been closed to transit from Pakistan’s side since Sunday.

According to him, visas have been requested from the drivers at this gate. Gardizi said that because thr gate is closed, many vehicles are stuck on both sides. (ANI)

ALSO READ: West in a fix as China Tightens Grip on Myanmar Affairs

Previous Story

China Registers Population Decline For Second Straight Year

Next Story

Taliban Tighten Grip on Book Stores, Publishing Houses

Latest from -Top News

Vance Defends US Sanctions, Tariffs on India

Vance said the Trump administration is making it harder for Moscow to profit from its oil economy through measures that include tariffs on India….reports Asian Lite News US Vice President JD Vance

Bangladesh Rejects Dar’s 1971 Claim

During his two-day Dhaka visit, the first in 13 years, Dar made the claims after meeting interim Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh has rejected Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Pakistan allows foreign investors to remit entire profit abroad

Under the new policy, foreign investors will be allowed to

Pak anti-graft agency unveils corruption in Gwadar project

Pakistan’s anti-graft watchdog on Wednesday filed a reference in the