LANDI KOTAL: The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which had remained closed for months, reopened only for deportation and repatriation of Afghan nationals, officials said on Tuesday.
The border crossing had reopened after months of closure but was shut down again recently following a security incident in which a Pakistani soldier was injured by a sniper shot from the Afghan side.
Following the incident, border authorities from both countries held two rounds of flag meetings at Torkham to ease tensions and restore movement across the crossing. As a result, both sides agreed to reopen the border in phases. On the reopening of the border, 157 Afghans, including 11 from Landikotal transit camp, were handed over to Afghan border authorities. Officials said the border would be opened for the coming days to facilitate the Afghan citizens to return to their country.
Meanwhile, a large number of transporters and drivers staged a demonstration in Landikotal, demanding the immediate return of Pakistani drivers and their vehicles that have been stuck across the border for the past six months.
According to the protesters, more than 1,500 Pakistani trucks and around 2,000 drivers remain stranded in Afghanistan due to the prolonged border closure, leaving them in severe hardship.
