A grand tribal jirga has been established to resolve the tensions at the Torkham border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said. The jirga includes tribal elders, scholars, and traders from the Khyber district.

It merits mentioning here that the Torkham trade crossing was closed for the sixteenth consecutive day on Sunday because of escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. While firing has ceased over the past three days, the border remains closed, disrupting bilateral trade and pedestrian movement.

The situation has been tense since Afghan forces began “suspicious” construction activities near the Torkham border more than a week ago, which further resulted in the closure of all traffic.

The Torkham crossing point, a crucial land trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has faced repeated closures in recent years due to border tensions, skirmishes, and armed conflicts.

In August, the Torkham border was closed for three days after the Afghan Taliban stated they were looking into claims of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly breaching Afghan airspace over Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

A total of eight Frontier Corps personnel have been injured in the clashes while three Afghan forces have been reported dead, they added.

Also, read this

Security forces foil Bannu Cantonment attack, six khawarij terrorists killed

Fire exchange between FC and Afghan forces at Torkham border comes to a halt

Afghan govt denies having definitive border with Pakistan

Moreover, tribal elders from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province have also formed a jirga to help reduce tensions. The Afghan jirga, consisting of 41 members including tribal leaders, scholars, and traders, has arrived at the Torkham border for negotiations, and a Pakistani delegation is expected to arrive shortly.

The grand jirga would focus on negotiating a ceasefire between the two countries. In the second phase, the jirga would review controversial constructions initiated by Afghan forces. If such constructions are “found to be within disputed territories, immediate actions will be taken to halt their development.”

The third phase of the talks would involve reopening the Torkham border for all types of movement, aiming to restore trade and travel activities.