The Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham trade route has officially reopened for vehicular movement after 25 days following a successful flag meeting between officials from both countries.

Authorities have also deployed personnel at the crossing point to oversee operations.

According to security sources, the flag meeting was held at the Afghan Customs House near the Torkham border, where officials from both countries endorsed the decisions made during a joint tribal jirga two days earlier.

With the reopening of the trade corridor, cargo trucks have started crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

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Security sources confirm that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have eased, allowing trade to resume.

The agreement currently permits only bilateral trade through the Torkham route, while pedestrian crossings are scheduled to reopen in two days.

On average, around 1,500 cargo trucks pass through the Torkham crossing daily.

Economic impact of border closure

Customs sources said that bilateral trade through Torkham generates approximately $3 million in daily revenue for Pakistan. The total trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan via this route averages $1.5 billion per day.

Earlier, security sources disclosed that the venue for the flag meeting had been changed from the Pakistani side of the border to the Afghan Customs Station upon the request of Afghan officials.

The Pakistani delegation, led by Khyber Rifles Commandant Colonel Asim Kayani, attended the meeting.

During the talks, both sides reaffirmed the agreements reached by the joint jirga, and it was decided that the trade corridor would reopen for cargo movement.

By 4pm today, cargo trucks were to officially resume operations, while pedestrian movement will remain suspended for two to three days due to damage to the Torkham immigration system caused by

Afghan forces’ gunfire. Only Afghan patients requiring urgent medical attention will be allowed to enter Pakistan under emergency conditions.

The Torkham border was shut down 25 days ago after Afghanistan initiated infrastructure development on a disputed site, which Pakistan deemed unacceptable. This led to cross-border tensions, including unprovoked gunfire from Afghan forces, prompting reports of civilian displacement.

A joint jirga comprising tribal elders from both countries conducted three negotiation sessions, keeping both governments informed of progress. Pakistan had insisted that any Afghan construction along the border was unacceptable and demanded an immediate halt, to which Afghan negotiators eventually agreed.

The closure of the Torkham crossing had severely impacted trade, resulting in daily losses of approximately $3 million. Pakistan and Afghanistan’s annual trade volume, which stood at $2.5 billion, had shrunk to $1.5 billion due to the prolonged suspension of cross-border commerce.