PESHAWAR - The Afghanistan-Pakistan border at Torkham, which has been closed since February 17, will reopen next week, a lawmaker from the tribal region says.
Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, speaking at a ceremony in the Mirdadkhel area of Khyber Agency, called the Torkham cossing point closure a huge loss to local traders and transporters.
Afridi said traders and labourers had suffered billion of rupees in losses due to the blockade of the crossing at Torkham and Chaman in southwestern Balochistan province.
The government should compensate the losses, he believed, alleging the ‘divide and rule’ game was being played to economically weaken the Pashtuns straddling the Durand Line.
The senator slammed the crossing points blockade an inappropriate measure that represented a blow to the national exchequer besides fuelling tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Afridi hoped the Torkham border crossing would reopen next week for the resumption of trade with Afghanistan.  (Pajhwok)