The Torkham border crossing was closed for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday for trade activities and pedestrian movement, leaving travellers stranded on both sides and causing significant financial losses to traders amounting to millions of rupees.

The first round of negotiations between Pakistani and interim Afghan government officials took place at Zero Point on Monday, but ended without reaching any conclusions, sources said. Another round of talks is expected today.

The Torkham crossing point, a crucial land trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has faced repeated closures in recent years due to border tensions, skirmishes, and armed conflicts.

Pakistan aimed to install a signboard at the Pakistan Gate while the Afghan side retaliated by proceeding with the security post’s construction. The conflict escalated when Afghan forces attempted to build a checkpoint in a disputed area, prompting Pakistani authorities to halt the work.

The incident heightened the situation between the security forces of both countries, resulting in the suspension of trade activities.

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The closure of the border has left hundreds of travellers in distress while the halt in imports and exports has inflicted heavy financial damage on the business community.

In August, the Torkham border was closed for three days after the Afghan Taliban stated they were looking into claims of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly breaching Afghan airspace over Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

Tensions flared once more in December, following reports of Pakistani airstrikes aimed at suspected militant camps in Afghanistan. Afghan officials indicated that these strikes led to civilian casualties, further straining relations between the two countries.