After a failed flag meeting which was scheduled for Wednesday, both sides unanimously agreed to deescalate the tension on Thursday morning.
Clashes between the border security forces started when Afghanistan reportedly started constructing roads next to the border. Pakistani security officials took exception to this activity, resulting in skirmishes between the two nations. The clashes led to the death of two civilians, and injuries to as many minors.
Locals sources said Afghanistan decided to skip the flag meeting, leading to the complete suspension of all activity across both sides of the border.
The stalemate finally came to an end and both sides agreed to resume movement, a move also welcomed by Kabul.
Anadolu Agency quotes officials as confirming that the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which had been closed for three days due to skirmishes, has reopened.
Abdullah Khan, a local Pakistani official at the border, confirmed to Anadolu that "the border has reopened this morning for travellers and transport after remaining closed for three days."
The closure of the Torkham border, one of the two main crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has caused heavy losses to already depreciating trade between the two neighbours, as Torkham is one of the busiest trade routes between Islamabad and Kabul.
The trade volume between landlocked Afghanistan and Pakistan has been mostly affected by terrorist attacks.
Zabihullah Mujahid also quoted an Afghan government chief spokesperson as saying that authorities are investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets violating Afghan airspace while patrolling. The Chaman border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened on Sunday following a 10-month closure after the federal government accepted the demands put forth by the protesters who were holding a sit-in there, officials and protest leaders said.
The protest ended following eight rounds of negotiations after which the Pakistani government finally agreed to the demands of Chaman residents. Olas Yar Khan of the Perlat Committee later confirmed that public movement between Chaman and the Afghan town of Boldak was back to normal.
“[Our] committee leaders have been released, and border movement between Chaman and Boldak is back to normal,” Khan said. “People can now travel using their ID [identity] cards and Afghan Tazkira as before”, former interim home minister Inayatullah Kasi added, announcing the government’s decision.
The Chaman border is a major international border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It connects Chaman with Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. Reports had suggested that around 10,000 people cross the border on a daily basis for trade in Wesh, Afghanistan.
The Afghan Taliban captured the border point on July 14, 2021, one month before their arrival in capital Kabul while the Western forces pulled out of the country after 20 years of war. The border gate remains open from morning till sunset.
The situation became tense here in October 2023 after the government, citing security concerns, imposed the requirement of presenting passports and visas for the cross-border travel. The decision had been taken last year by the national apex committee, which comprised top civil and military leadership.
However, the policy faced backlash from Chaman residents, political and religious groups, and traders, who demanded the return to the previous ID card system. The Afghan Taliban had also insisted that Afghan territory was not being used for terrorism inside Pakistan.
The reversal of the visa policy has been praised by the locals, who said that it would improve bilateral relations and help in economic recovery. Former Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Daru Khan Achakzai urged the government to continue the ID cards policy.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban officials stated that travel to Boldak would remain suspended until the central government clarified its position. Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Zia Lango and government spokesperson Shahid Rind were unavailable for comment, despite attempts to contact them.
