By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: A protest gathering was held at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal, Khyber district, against the closure of the Torkham border, which protesters said has continued for the past 10 months.
The demonstration was attended by Torkham customs clearing agents, tribal youth, labor organizations, traders, political leaders, social figures and local elders. Speakers said the prolonged closure had severely disrupted cross-border trade, weakened the local economy and deprived thousands of families of their livelihoods.
They urged the federal government and relevant authorities to reopen the Torkham border immediately for both pedestrian movement and bilateral trade, arguing that doing so would ease public hardship, revive business activity and provide much-needed relief to people living in the border region.
The speakers warned that the gathering marked their final appeal and said they would be compelled to consider stronger action if their demands continued to be ignored. They argued that the government should have put alternative economic arrangements in place before deciding to close the border, saying Torkham is the primary source of income for many tribal communities.
They also maintained that border crossings around the world are generally kept open for trade and should not be used as a tool for political purposes.
The speakers also criticized the provincial and federal governments, as well as what they described as the country’s powerful institutions, claiming that flawed policies had left the tribal districts facing both insecurity and economic hardship.
They said the border closure had stripped residents of their legitimate means of earning a living, pushing many families deeper into poverty and uncertainty.
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