Pakistan reopens Torkham border as ceasefire with Afghanistan holds

Islamabad [Pakistan], November 2 (ANI): The Torkham borderline crossing betwixt Afghanistan and Pakistan was reopened connected Saturday, allowing the instrumentality of Afghan refugees aft a astir two-week closure that followed deadly borderline clashes betwixt the 2 countries past month, The Express Tribune reported.

According to officials, the determination came arsenic the ceasefire betwixt Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was formalised successful Doha connected October 19, continues to hold.

The repatriation process, which had been suspended since October 11, has present resumed astatine some the Torkham and Chaman crossings successful Pakistan, arsenic reported by The Express Tribune.

Authorities said astir 10,700 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via the Chaman borderline connected Friday arsenic the repatriation effort expanded.

Approximately 1.56 cardinal Afghan nationals person truthful acold returned to their homeland nether Pakistan's ongoing repatriation initiative.

The borderline closure, imposed aft days of cross-border clashes, had stranded thousands of families connected some sides and disrupted bilateral trade. The suspension of commercialized led to shortages and higher prices of indispensable goods, peculiarly caller nutrient specified arsenic tomatoes, successful markets crossed northwestern Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.

While the Torkham crossing has reopened for exile movements, commercialized remains suspended for the clip being.

'The borderline remains closed for commercialized for now,' Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, arsenic quoted by The Express Tribune, noting that the resumption of commercialized enactment would beryllium connected the prevailing information situation.

Officials said each indispensable unit had been directed to resume duties astatine the Torkham crossing to facilitate the repatriation process. Temporary shelters, nutrient supplies, and aesculapian assistance person been arranged by the Frontier Corps and the civilian medication to guarantee a 'dignified and orderly' instrumentality for departing families.

Deputy Commissioner of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Bilal Rao, confirmed the reopening, stating that operations had resumed smoothly to assistance Afghan nationals heading home, The Express Tribune reported. Express

Earlier connected Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan person agreed to proceed their ceasefire aft a caller circular of talks successful Istanbul.

According to the statement, the meetings, held from October 25 to 30 and mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, were aimed astatine consolidating the truce that some sides archetypal agreed to successful Doha nether the aforesaid mediators.

The discussions focused connected mechanisms to prolong bid and forestall further borderline clashes.

According to the associated statement, 'all parties person agreed connected the continuation of the ceasefire', and further modalities for its implementation volition beryllium finalised successful a principal-level gathering successful Istanbul connected November 6.

The connection added that Afghanistan and Pakistan person besides agreed to found a 'monitoring and verification mechanism' to guarantee adherence to the ceasefire and to enforce penalties connected immoderate enactment recovered violating it.

As mediators, Turkiye and Qatar besides expressed appreciation for the 'active contribution' of some sides and reaffirmed their committedness to supporting ongoing efforts for 'lasting bid and stability' betwixt the neighbouring countries. (ANI)