Pakistan-Afghanistan border ‘likely to reopen’ within 24 to 48 hours
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan-Afghanistan border is likely to reopen within 24 to 48 hours, a private TV channel claimed on Monday, a day after the two neighbouring countries agreed to a ceasefire.
Pakistan closed the Torkham and Chaman borders with Afghanistan on October 12 after the Afghan Taliban, in association with their affiliated militants, attacked multiple Pakistan Armed Forces posts along the border.
The matter said that officials from both countries have agreed to reopen the border if no other dispute arises.
The border clashes between forces from the two countries began on the night between October 11 and 12 after the Afghan Taliban and militants launched unprovoked attacks against Pakistan’s border posts.
The resulting clashes led to the killing of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred defending the motherland, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Pakistan also conducted “precision strikes” deep inside Afghanistan, targeting terrorists in Kandahar province and Kabul. A temporary 48-hour ceasefire was announced on October 15 at Afghanistan’s request.
The temporary ceasefire was extended for another 48 hours on October 17 as delegations from the two countries headed to Doha, Qatar, for further negotiations.
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during the Qatar-mediated talks on Sunday.
Meanwhile, residents on the frontier are hoping the ceasefire deal will end the clashes and revive crucial cross-border trade.
While the crossings remain closed, life has regained a semblance of normality, with bakers kneading bread, fruit and vegetable sellers wheeling out their carts, and customers frequenting shops.
“People can breathe and feel relieved. (But) before that, gunfire damaged a few houses in our village,” said Sadiq Shah, 56, a shopkeeper from Baizai on the Pakistani side.
The ceasefire agreement has brought relief to many along the border.
More than 1,500 trucks, trailers and containers carrying cement, medicines, rice and other basic goods are waiting in Torkham, according to a senior Pakistani customs official in nearby Peshawar. Monitoring Desk
