KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Trade operations at the Torkham crossing, a key commercial gateway between Afghanistan and Pakistan, have been suspended due to a technical malfunction in the scanning system, sources report.
A Taliban official at Torkham, speaking on condition of anonymity, told KabulNow on Thursday (April 3) that the scanner has been out of service for a week, leading to the halt in trade activities.
According to the source, a team of engineers has been dispatched to address the issue, and operations are expected to resume in the coming days.
Pakistani media outlets have also confirmed the suspension, reporting that only empty trucks stranded on the Afghanistan side are currently allowed to pass.
The Dawn newspaper noted that the breakdown has disrupted coal, fresh fruit, and dried fruit imports from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
This disruption follows a month-long closure of the Torkham border earlier this year due to clashes between Taliban forces and the Pakistani military. The prolonged shutdown left thousands of trucks stranded on both sides, with Afghan traders reporting losses of up to $500,000 per day.
Torkham, along with the Chaman crossing in southwestern Pakistan, has frequently been a flashpoint for cross-border tensions. The latest disruption further complicates relations between the Taliban and Islamabad, with trade interruptions exacerbating existing diplomatic strains.
