Khyber (TDI): Security officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to reach an agreement regarding the reopening of the Torkham border on Sunday with both the sides showing some optimism that the issue would be resolved anytime this week.
Border security officials of both countries met at the Zero Point with both sides explaining their positions and also insisting that previous protocols about any change in the existing border structure be honoured and respected, Dawn.com reported.
Officials said that Pakistan was ready to reopen the border with the Afghan officials requesting for some time to discuss the issue with their higher authorities.
The customs and immigration departments had also called their employees for duty on Sunday in anticipation of reopening of the border but they had to return back as no deal could be reached.
Meanwhile, hundreds of returning Afghans too gathered near the border with the hope that they would be permitted to go home as they impatiently waited for the entire day, but in vain.
Officials said that they were now waiting for the Afghan officials to come back with a positive massage about the issue.
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The closure of Torkham border has resulted in billions of rupees losses to the exchequer as well as traders and transporters, with officials from both countries yet to resolve the issue of border modification on either side.
Daily export volume in recent weeks had up to $1.5 million, while Pakistan was earning around Rs 540 million as the bilateral trade had witnessed a rapid surge since late January.
The border was closed on the night of February 21 after border security officials reacted sharply to the renovation of a border checkpost on the Afghan side.
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In response, Afghan border officials accused the Pakistani side of fixing a new signboard close to the border crossing without informing them about the change in the border structure.
Since then, the Torkham border crossing has been closed for all types of cross-border activities, with only exception of allowing bodies of 8 Afghans, who had died in Pakistan, to be taken to Afghanistan on February 22.
