Torkham commissioner Mullah Abdul Jabbar Hikmat said Thursday the crossing will be closed for the next three days in order for Pakistan border authorities to move into new premises.

He said the crossing has been closed to travelers and to people seeking medical help in Pakistan.

Hikmat appealed to the public not to make their way to the crossing over the next three days.

However, trucks carrying goods will still be able to cross as per usual, in both directions.

Pakistani media has also reported that the crossing will be closed from May 17 to May 19 in order to enable border officials to move into new premises.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed Wednesday that one person was killed and 12 were injured when a helicopter crashed in Firozkoh, the capital of Ghor province.

Enayatullah Khwarazmi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, said on X that on Wednesday morning, an Air Force Mi-17 helicopter, which was sent to Ghor province, experienced technical problems and crashed into a wall during an emergency landing.

In footage published by Afghan media, the wreckage of a helicopter can be seen lying in a fast-flowing river, with crowds of people gathered around it.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Defense said the helicopter had been sent to Firozkoh to retrieve bodies of car crash victims.

The spokesman said a car plunged into the Harirod River a few days ago, resulting in the death of a few people.

Takeyoshi Kuramaya, Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, said in a meeting with Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy prime minister, that the lack of diplomatic presence of Western countries in Afghanistan has caused them to be unaware of the positive developments in the country.

According to him, the international community should have direct contact with the Islamic Emirate.

Kuramaya also said Japan is committed to cooperating with Afghans in dealing with natural disasters, treating drug addicts and finding alternative crops for former poppy farmers.

On the other hand, Kabir said at this meeting that due to the support of the people, the Islamic Emirate has been able to ensure national peace, start big projects and make many other improvements.

The political deputy added that the Islamic Emirate is trying to solve people’s problems and wants positive interactions and broad relations with the world.