Local officials in the eastern province of Nangarhar discussed the reopening of Torkham crossing with Pakistani officials.
Arafat Mahajar, manager of the department of information in the Directorate of Information and Culture of Nangarhar, said that the two sides held talks about opening the crossing.
“On Sunday, the Afghan and Pakistan officials held negotiations about the reopening of the Torkham crossing so that the gate will be reopened soon,” he said.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the closure of Torkham crossing and the firing on Afghan security forces by Pakistan is against good neighborly relations.
The ministry said in a statement that Islamabad is continuingly creating problems in Karachi port and has closed Torkham crossing at the time of harvest for Afghanistan’s vegetable and fruits, which is an unjustifiable act and against all commitments made previously.
Such steps harm the trade and transit relations between the two countries, the statement said.“It is essential that the two sides, for improvement of trade and transit of the region, find a solution for such problems,” said Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for the MoFA.“We once again call on the Pakistani officials to reopen the gates of Torkham for the common people, patients and traders,” said Sardar Ahmad Shikib, the chargés d’affaires of Afghanistan’s embassy in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, political analysts said that Pakistan needs to stop its dual policy towards Afghanistan.
“Pakistan wants to put pressure on the Islamic Emirate because Torkham gate is important for us. Thousands of Afghans are commuting through this gate,” said Mohammad Sangar Amirzada, political analyst.
Last Wednesday, a clash erupted between Islamic Emirate and the Pakistani military, which led to a closure of the Torkham crossing.
