PESHAWAR: The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for the seventh consecutive day on Saturday, suspending all trade and pedestrian movement and deepening economic losses on both sides.
The closure, triggered by heightened border tensions, has caused severe disruption to the flow of goods and travellers between the two countries. Long queues of vehicles have stretched for kilometres along the Torkham Highway, with many trucks carrying perishable goods now facing spoilage in the heat.
Traders warned that continued delays could result in substantial financial losses. The disruption has already led to rising prices of essential items, including fruit and vegetables, in local markets across the border region.
The Torkham crossing, one of the busiest trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, handles thousands of tonnes of goods each week. Its closure has not only paralysed local commerce but also disrupted wider regional trade.
Merchants and transporters from both countries have urged their governments to hold talks to end the impasse, warning that prolonged closure benefits neither side.
Officials have yet to announce when the border will reopen, leaving hundreds of stranded drivers and traders waiting as the economic and humanitarian impact continues to worsen.
