Archive · 6 Jan 2026
Pakistan, Afghanistan Discuss Reopening Torkham Border
Business leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan had a meeting on Monday to talk about opening the Torkham border again.
This border has been closed since October 12, and many people who depend on trade and travel between the two countries are struggling.
On Sunday, people in Pakistan held a protest to ask the government to open the border.
They said that the closure has caused many families to face extreme poverty and economic problems.
The border is an important business gateway to Central Asia, and all commercial activities have stopped in the town due to the closure.
The protesters urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to not relate bilateral trade to political and security issues and to allow people to travel frequently on both sides of the border.
They also demanded that influential tribal elders and trade representatives be made part of future Pak-Afghan peace and trade dialogues.
A 12-member delegation from each side is expected to hold talks in Jalalabad next week to discuss practical steps forward.
Business leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan held talks on Monday to discuss reopening the Torkham border crossing.
A 12-member delegation from each side is expected to hold talks in Jalalabad next week to discuss practical steps forward.
The first phase would enable stranded cargo containers to cross the border, followed by talks on the full reopening of the Torkham crossing.
People held a protest in Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding the immediate reopening of the Torkham border.
The border closure has caused economic hardships for thousands of families, with many facing extreme poverty and taking loans for survival.
- Who
- Business leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan, traders, transporters, tribal elders, daily wagers, political activists, and civil society members
- What
- Talks to reopen the Torkham border and a protest demanding its immediate reopening
- When
- Talks on Monday, protest on Sunday
- Where
- Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and Jalalabad, Afghanistan
- Why
- To ease trade disruptions and address economic hardships caused by the border closure
- Location
- Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Date of Protest
- Sunday, before Monday's report
- Organizers
- All Borders Coordinators Council
- Border Closure Date
- October 12
- Impacted Groups
- Traders, transporters, tribal elders, daily wagers, political activists, civil society
- Key Demand
- Immediate reopening of the Torkham border
- Economic Impact
- Hundreds of families face extreme poverty and economic problems
- Trade Route Significance
- Key route for food, fuel, and commercial goods
- Delegation Details
- 12-member delegation from each side
- Meeting Location
- Jalalabad
- Meeting Timing
- Next week
