Khyber (TDI): The Torkham border crossing reopened on Wednesday after 27 days following much-awaited parleys between jirga members of Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a jirga leader from the Pakistani side.
The cross-border movement of people via the Torkham border crossing was abruptly suspended on February 21 after Pakistani and Afghan security forces developed differences over construction activities on both sides of the border.
The situation worsened this month when 8 people, including six troops, were wounded as Pakistan and Afghan Taliban forces traded fire at the border.
A number of houses, a mosque and some offices of clearing agents were hit by artillery shells, and cross-border firing continued for 3 days.
Since then, tribal elders on both sides of the border have been engaged in negotiations to end the stalemate.
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Approximately 5,000 commercial trucks had been stuck on both sides, causing millions of dollars worth of losses to traders in both countries, according to the vice president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi.
Moreover, an immediate ceasefire has been agreed upon till April 15, Dawn.com reported.
On March 17, a joint Jirga comprised of elders and traders had reached an agreement which included the reopening of the crossing, a ceasefire, and a halt to the construction of check posts on the Afghan side near the border.
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Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told a weekly media briefing on March 13 that Afghan authorities had carried out illegal and unilateral construction activity within the Pakistani territory at two points along the Pakistan border.
On their part, Afghan Taliban officials claimed that they wanted to build check posts on their side.
