The Torkham border crossing was reopened on Thursday at 2 p.m. for Afghan migrants returning to the country after nearly a month of closure.

According to reports, the reopening has allowed the flow of Afghan returnees from Pakistan to resume, with many families entering Afghanistan through the crossing.

Torkham is considered one of the most important crossing gateways between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Its closure had created significant challenges for migrants and disrupted crossing movement.

Heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in Kandahar have caused significant destruction, leaving dozens of families affected, according to the province’s Department for Disaster Response and Preparedness.

Officials reported that approximately 85 homes in Kandahar city were either completely or partially destroyed due to the severe weather. Additionally, around 90 families living in temporary shelters were also impacted by the floods.

Tragically, two people, including a five-year-old child, lost their lives in Daman district as a result of the floodwaters.

Authorities confirmed that joint response teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the damage and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the displaced and affected families.

The local administration emphasized the need for coordinated relief efforts to help the flood-affected population recover from the disaster.

Afghanistan has underscored the importance of water diplomacy and regional cooperation during a ministerial forum held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

The country’s Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Water and Energy participated in the “Water Week” forum, where he called for stronger collaboration among regional partners in managing shared water resources.

Speaking at the event, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Omar Akhundzada emphasized the need for equitable water distribution between Afghanistan and Central Asian nations. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing water diplomacy and adopting modern technologies to improve water management systems.

Akhundzada further stressed the urgency of joint regional efforts to tackle the effects of climate change and prevent environmental degradation along the Amu Darya River. He reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to respecting the water rights of neighboring countries while strengthening its domestic water infrastructure.

On the sidelines of the forum, Akhundzada met with Shavkat Khamrayev to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in water management between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan’s participation in the forum is seen as a significant step toward boosting its engagement in regional and international water discussions, potentially paving the way for deeper cooperation across Central Asia.