Trigger
The Torkham crossing–the busiest artery between Afghanistan and Pakistan out of the 18 gateways the two counties share (Anadolu Ajansı, March 09)–links Nangarhar province to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is a lifeline more than a border for thousands on either side. With 800 cargo trucks and over 10,000 travellers crossing the Torkham pass daily (The International News, February 23), the trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan was valued at more than $1.6 billion in 2024 alone (Reuters, March 03). From traders moving essential goods and food supplies, families staying connected and Afghans seeking urgent medical care in Pakistan, the area hums with the daily rhythm of trade, travel, and survival (Kabul Now, March 02).
So, when Torkham was slammed shut indefinitely by the Pakistan Frontier Corps (FC) on February 21, 2025, the shockwaves were instant and far-reaching. The closure was apparently triggered by Afghan the construction of a bunker near Zero-Point, forcing FC into a retaliatory stance amidst escalating tensions. Both sides have since tightened their positions, with Pakistani authorities relocating customs, immigration, and police personnel from Torkham Bazaar to Landikotal (ANI News, February 26).
The latest update on the conflict comes from a recent jirga (tribal assembly) between Afghan and Pakistani representatives, which has led to a temporary ceasefire agreement, raising hopes for a potential reopening of the border in the coming days (Anadolu Ajansı, March 09). That said, however, this stalemate on the Durand Line goes beyond the mere construction of a single check post–it instead speaks to the deep-seated mistrust that has long-defined relations between the two countries.
Aftermath and Reactions
In the early hours of March 04–the first day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan when food imports from Pakistan usually peak in Afghanistan–forces from the two sides exchanged heavy fire at the Torkham border, causing 15,000 locals to flee to Landi Kotal (Reuters, March 04). According to Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, one Afghan security personnel was killed, and two others were wounded in the clash. Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani accused Pakistan of initiating the gunfire, stating that Afghan border police had attempted to resolve the matter through dialogue. On the other hand, a Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that Taliban security forces opened fire without provocation, targeting a Pakistani border post with automatic weapons (AP News, March 03; Reuters, March 03).
Apart from violent clashes, the Torkham closure has also resulted in economic and humanitarian crises. Yousaf Afridi, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries for Pakistan’s Khyber district–where the Torkham crossing is located–estimated that the shutdown had already caused at least $15 million in losses with more than 5,000 trucks stranded on either side of the border, most of which have perishable food items (Reuters, March 04). Zia ul Haq Sirhadi, vice president of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said, “This closure is disastrous for business. Thousands of trucks are stuck at the border, [some] are already on their way to the border and that means losses of billions of dollars” (Al Jazeera English, March 08). Local traders and daily wage workers have borne the worst brunt of this closure. Qari Nazeem Gul, a trader dealing in fresh fruit and vegetable imports and exports, noted that nearly 800 traders rely on the Torkham crossing for their livelihood and survival. With the shutdown dragging on, many now face mounting economic losses and hardship (Geo TV, February 26; Tribune India, February 26).
In a country already grappling with an “unprecedented level” of malnutrition, with Afghanistan finding a place among the top ten nations globally with the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality (Relief Web, 2024, March 22), the Torkham closure has only made the situation worse. On March 08, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the closure of Torkham could drive up food prices in Afghanistan in the coming weeks, compounding economic hardships and disrupting trade flows. A market analysis conducted by the agency revealed that daily wages for labourers had already plunged to seasonal lows due to dwindling winter job opportunities. The WFP cautioned that a prolonged border shutdown could further choke food imports, fuelling long-term inflationary pressures. Given the widespread food insecurity already prevalent in the country, the agency urgently urged stakeholders and authorities to mediate alternative trade routes to stabilise markets (Amu TV, March 08).
Mediation and Dialogue
Despite these tensions, multiple diplomatic efforts have allegedly been made to resolve the crisis at Torkham. From early attempts at provincial-level negotiations to the latest ceasefire agreement, both sides have sought to de-escalate the situation, though with limited success.
One of the earliest initiatives came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who met with the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, on March 02 (Image 1). Acknowledging the urgency of reopening the border–especially in light of Ramadan and the approaching Eid ul-Fitr celebrations–both sides discussed ways to stabilise trade and travel. Gandapur announced that the KP government had formed a jirga (tribal assembly) to facilitate direct talks with Afghan authorities and was awaiting federal approval for its terms of reference. He also indicated that discussions were underway with international organisations to introduce health and education cards for Afghan nationals (Geo TV, March 02; Express News, March 02).
Parallel discussions were also held between lower-level border officials from both sides in the early days of the closure, yet, these efforts failed to produce a resolution, as confirmed by Muhammed Mujeeb Khan Shinwari, president of the Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association (ANI News, February 26). Mawlawi Abdul Jabar Hikmat, the Taliban’s commissioner at Torkham, confirmed on March 02 that talks had stalled, with the matter being escalated to higher authorities in Islamabad and Kabul for a final decision. Meanwhile, a Taliban delegation–led by Azizullah Mustafa, deputy governor of Nangarhar, and comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs–proposed key measures to prevent further disruptions. Their demands included keeping the border open 24/7, preventing future closures, and allowing patients and other travellers to cross without restrictions. Hikmat stressed that political disputes should not come at the cost of economic and humanitarian concerns (Amu TV, March 02; Arab News, March 03).
However, after weeks of deadlock, a breakthrough may finally be within reach. In a significant development on March 09, Taliban representatives and Pakistani officials reportedly agreed to a two-day ceasefire during a jirga, setting the stage for the temporary reopening of the Torkham crossing until March 12. The negotiations, which included 35 Afghan tribal elders and 40 officials from Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, focused on easing tensions and restoring normalcy at the border (Amu TV/X, March 09). As part of the agreement, both sides committed to halting all forms of construction along the border until the next round of talks, scheduled for March 12. Officials indicated that the reopening of the crossing would likely follow these discussions, though a final decision remains pending. While the agreement marks a temporary reprieve, whether it translates into a lasting resolution is yet to be seen (Anadolu Ajansı, March 09).
Conclusion
While crossings like Torkham and Chaman frequently fall victim to abrupt shutdowns, the current crisis must be viewed within the broader context of geopolitical friction between the two neighbours. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Taliban-led government to crack down on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the militant group using Afghan soil as a launchpad for attacks. The dispute over the Durand Line has only intensified since the ‘Christmas Bombings’ of December 2024, when the Pakistani Air Force conducted retaliatory airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting seven TTP hideouts. These strikes followed the deadliest TTP attack on Pakistani soil in recent years, which claimed the lives of 16 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan just days prior to the airstrikes (Business Standard, 2024, December 25). Since then, near-daily reports of bombings and clashes have fuelled casualties on both sides, deepening mistrust.
If hostilities persist unchecked, the fallout could reshape South Asia’s security and geopolitical landscape. Pakistan’s tightened border controls and counterterrorism operations in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region risk further alienating local communities, fostering resentment rather than stability. Prolonged closures at Torkham force both nations to seek alternative trade corridors, potentially shifting regional alliances. Afghanistan may increasingly turn towards Iran and Central Asia for trade, which may offer an opportunity for India. New Delhi could also consider sending emergency supplies and humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict, which now seems to be an inevitable cycle that is likely to recur. Projects like the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, once envisioned as a symbol of regional cooperation, could now hang in the balance, threatened by continued instability.
Against this backdrop, ceasefire agreements at Torkham are little more than temporary bandages on a much deeper wound. The crossing is not just a border post; it is a microcosm of the larger crisis–one that is not merely about security, but about shifting allegiances, economic survival, and the battle for influence in a region teetering on the edge of violence and change.
