Pakistan and Afghanistan are preparing to reopen the Torkham trade crossing soon, which had been closed for the past nine days due to border tensions, reported 24News HD TV channel on Tuesday.
Customs authorities have instructed their staff to report immediately at the Torkham terminal as preparations got under way.
According to customs sources, a cargo scanner has been moved back to the terminal to resume clearance of goods vehicles. The scanner was removed on the night of October 11 and 12 when tensions flared along the border.
Officials confirmed that the Torkham crossing was closed eight days ago following the escalation of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
On the Afghan side, security officials said hundreds of passengers have already arrived at the border after hearing that the gate may soon reopen.
The closure had brought cross-border trade to a halt, leaving dozens of trucks loaded with fruits, vegetables, and other goods stranded on the Pakistani side.
The Ghulam Khan border in North Waziristan and the Angoor Adda crossing in South Waziristan were also shut down amid the standoff.
Authorities from both sides are now trying to get trade back on track and ease the movement of goods and people across the border.
This came possible after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to immediate ceasefire along their borders after days of clashes.
In an interview on Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the primary objective of the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan is to eliminate the menace of terrorism.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Khawaja Asif said terrorism has been affecting border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan for years. He said both countries have reached the conclusion that immediate elimination of terrorism is essential. He said the two countries will make serious efforts to curb terrorism, otherwise, regional peace could face serious threats.
He said the Afghan Defence Minister had acknowledged that terrorism was the main reason behind the tensions in their relations, which will now be addressed. He hoped that peace will now return, and relations will normalize between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
As a result, Pakistan-Afghanistan trade and transit will also resume, and Afghanistan will be able to use Pakistani ports.
In an X post soon after signing agreement with Afghanistan, Khawaja Asif wrote: “Cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory will cease immediately and both countries will respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Asif further confirmed a “follow-up meeting between the delegations is scheduled to take place in the Turkish city of Istanbul on October 25 to discuss the matters in detail.”