Islamabad: Residents of Landi Kotal area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have taken to the streets, demanding the immediate reopening of the Torkham border. The protest was held under the banner of the All Borders Coordinators Council on Sunday.
The demonstration included traders, transporters, tribal elders, daily wage labourers, political party workers, and members of civil society. According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the border with Afghanistan has been closed since 12 October, directly affecting various groups and organisations.
Speakers at the protest stated that the closure of the Torkham border has caused severe economic distress to thousands of people, especially those who rely entirely on cross-border trade. They described the Torkham crossing as an essential business gateway to Central Asia, serving as an economic hub for thousands of families dependent on it for their livelihoods.
Protesters highlighted that the closure has brought all commercial activities in the area to a halt, pushing hundreds of families into poverty and financial difficulties. Many have been forced to take loans to meet their daily expenses.
Local residents appealed to the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan not to link bilateral trade with political or security issues and to allow free movement across the border. They also urged that influential tribal elders and trade representatives be included in future peace and trade talks between the two countries, noting their past contributions in resolving difficult matters.
Reports from Pakistani media in December last year indicated that daily wage labourers and porters faced economic hardships due to the ongoing closure of the Torkham border. Many lost part-time jobs amid heightened tensions at the border. Some workers have sought employment in Punjab and Sindh provinces, while others have borrowed money from relatives and friends to cover daily expenses. Financial constraints have even led to children being withdrawn from schools.
The situation has caused significant mental stress among the local population, with some individuals reportedly turning to drug use to cope. Mansoor Ali shared that poverty forced him to quit his FSc Computer Science course and start working as a porter between the border point and taxi stand for a small income.
Ali Shinwari, leader of the Torkham Labourers and Porters Association, expressed concerns that unemployed youth might be recruited by banned terrorist groups, which exploit the vulnerable economic conditions. He also warned that some young people could be employed as drug peddlers, attracted by the high salaries offered by narcotics dealers.
Following attacks near the Durand Line by the Pakistani army in October last year, Pakistan closed all trade routes with Afghanistan. In response, Afghan forces carried out retaliatory attacks. Subsequently, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, urged industrialists and traders to use alternative trade routes instead of Pakistan.
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