Pakistan-Afghan jirga agrees to suspend contentious construction and open the Torkham border.

A big breakthrough occurred during a Pakistan-Afghan jirga to ease border tensions at the Khyber-Torkham crossing.

Jawad Hussain, a Pakistani jirga member, stated that both sides agreed to end hostilities and reopen trade and transit across the critical border crossing.

As part of the deal, the jirga resolved to temporarily suspend Afghan soldiers’ disputed building project. The Afghan delegation has asked an extension till this evening to engage with their officials on the subject.

Hussain stated that the Afghan jirga will update their authorities on the decision to suspend construction, and the topic would be postponed until the next Joint Chamber of Commerce meeting.

The final judgment on the disputed construction will be made at that session, and trading at the crossing will resume in the meanwhile. The next meeting date will be chosen after mutual consultation.

Additionally, officials from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) and Afghan authorities were supposed to meet today. The reopening of the Torkham trade route is expected following their talks.

The border crossing was blocked on February 21 amid escalating tensions after Afghan soldiers began construction within Pakistani territory.