—– Installation of ‘Welcome to Pakistan’ signboard apparent cause of latest closure
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Afghan authorities on Wednesday closed the Torkham border crossing between the two countries in an apparent protest against a ‘Welcome to Pakistan’ signboard being installed at the crossing’s Zero Point.
As work crews were installing the signboard, Afghan authorities closed the international border crossing to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The crossing at Torkham is a key trading waypoint, where Afghanistan exports truckloads of coal and receives food and other supplies from Pakistan.
Similarly in September, the border remained closed for two days after a gun battle erupted between Pakistan and Afghan border forces, with each side blaming the other for starting the firefight.
In recent weeks, Pakistan’s apparent shift in its policy regarding the Afghan Taliban has further created a tense environment. Islamabad earlier stated that it will no longer extend any “special privileges” to the interim Afghan Taliban government.
Pakistan’s policy of acting as the Afghan interim government’s spokesperson often drew strong criticism both from within and outside the country. However, officials at that time defended the approach, insisting that the Afghan Taliban were a reality and had no other option but to work with them.
In the past, Islamabad made efforts with other regional players to ensure that sanctions against the Afghan Taliban government were lifted and Kabul should have access to the funds frozen by the US soon after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. However, Pakistan’s goodwill gestures and assistance extended to the Afghan Taliban government after its return to power in August 2021 were taken for granted.
Also, Pakistan in order to facilitate the Afghan interim government, gave many incentives to Afghanistan in terms of trade and other facilities. But now, the sources said, Pakistan would no longer extend any special favours to the Afghan Taliban government as they were harbouring “our enemies”.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is already on the edge over the presence of TTP sanctuaries across the border.
The latest move by Pakistan to repatriate Afghans having no refugee status or visa has further compounded the bilateral relationship as the Taliban government is not happy with Islamabad and several Pakistani leaders.
Earlier, Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued to persist on Tuesday as both the sides failed to make any headway in their talks to reopen the key border crossing that remained shut since Sept 6.
“The status quo persists. No progress so far in talks. In fact, both sides are no longer holding talks for now,” an official source familiar with the development told The Express Tribune.
Hundreds of trucks and travellers were stranded on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a week into the closure of the nations’ busiest crossing after a gunfight erupted across the frontier.
The sources said after failure to resolve the issue through talks, the two sides were not talking to each other at least for now.
The border closure left hundreds of trucks on both sides of the border stranded. The crossing was also shut for all kinds of movement.
A Pakistani official while speaking on condition of anonymity said it was surprising the way the Afghan Taliban government was behaving.
Pakistan was not happy with the statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry, levelling what officials here called “baseless” allegations against Pakistan.
The official believes that the Afghan government seems to be frustrated over Pakistan’s move to launch a crackdown against smugglers.
The Afghan economy was benefiting from smuggled goods, according to the official.
Tensions have been building between Pakistan and the interim Afghan government for months over the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue.
