Trade resumes at Torkham border after govt extends validity of TAD

By Tahir Khan

ISLAMABAD: The movement of cargo trucks at the Torkham border resumed on Thursday after disruption for several days over Afghan transporters, drivers and cleaners not possessing passports and visas, Pakistani traders said.

Hundreds of Afghan truckers stranded on the Pakistani side of the border after Pakistan stopped movement on the Temporary Admission documents (TAD) on July 7.

Several extensions were previously granted as a goodwill gesture despite Pakistan’s one-document-regime that requires all passengers to have legal documents to enter Pakistan.

Afghan and Pakistani drivers would cross the border points on TAD.

The validity of TAD had expired on May 31st. However, Pakistani authorities had verbally extended it until June 30. It was then extended to July 7 and again until July 31^st, so cross-border trade is not affected.

Pakistan’s decision is a sigh of relief for traders of fresh fruit and vegetables of both countries.

A Commerce Ministry’s notification, available to Hum News English, says that the Pakistani embassy in Kabul had requested the ministry to grant an extension as Transit and Transport visas are being issued to Afghan Drivers and cleaners and the policy will be implemented, effective 1st August 2025.

“Hence entry is allowed for Afghan Drivers/ cleaners on TAD till 31st July 2025,” according to the notification.

It says that the issue of expired TAD of vehicles, which has caused disruption at Torkhum border, has been reported.

Jawad Hussain Kazmi, Group Leader Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed to Hum News English that the Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification to extend the validity of TAD until July 31^st.

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“The Ministry of Commerce extended TAD after we held meetings with officials in Islamabad on Wednesday. I can confirm that stranded vehicles have been allowed to cross the border,” Kazmi, who is also advisor at the FPCCI, told Hum News English.

Tribesmen demand opening of Angoor Ada border point

Representatives of South Waziristan’s business community and locals on Thursday staged a rally in Wana against the closure of Angoor Ada border crossing with Afghanistan.

The border was closed nearly 22 months ago, which has badly affected business activities in the militancy-hit Waziristan, Saif-ur-Rehman, the South Waziristan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SWCCI) president, Saif ur Rehman said.

Representatives of political parties of Waziristan, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan People’s Party, ANP, NDM, Muslim League-N, Councilor Ittehad,  Drugs Union, PTM spoke the protestors at Rustam Bazar, Wana, Saif-ur-Rehman said.

Zubair Khan Wazir, MNA from South Waziristan, joined the protest and assured the business community of all kinds of support.

Speakers said that unrest is spreading in the area due to the closure of the Pak-Afghan border and youth will be unemployed, and they will go on the wrong path.

They said that the state is unable to fulfill its constitutional duty of providing employment to its citizens.

Speakers demanded the government to reopen the border by July 18 but if the border was not opened, the business community will start a sit-in. This sit-in will be a decisive sit-in of the business community.

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The border was closed in September 2023 after locals in Waziristan opposed the government policy to introduce a one-document regime for everyone crossing the Pak-Afghan border.

Angoor Ada is one of the major trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and many people on both sides are depending on cross-border trade.

Trade at Ghulam Khan Border also affected

Trade activities have also been affected at Ghulam Khan, border point in North Waziristan, due to a wave of recent violent incidents in the area, according to locals.

A total of 13 security personnel were martyred and several injured in a deadly bomb attack on forces North Waziristan on June 28.