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Torkham crossing stays shut for 3rd day
After clashes on Wednesday between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani border guards at Torkham crossing, the border is still closed for third consecutive day to commercial goods and passengers.
Although commercial goods and a large number of passengers are waiting for the reopening of the crossing border on both sides, the officials of the two countries have not yet commented on the matter.
Some passers-by say that no one is allowed to pass, not even for patients.
Torkham is the main passage for the transit of goods and passengers between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but this passage has been shut for three days and the sudden closure has caused hundreds of vehicles carrying commercial goods to stop and wander on both sides.
Some experts meanwhile say that there is a need for the Islamic Emirate to hold comprehensive negotiations with Pakistani side in order to find a logical, political and permanent solution to end the military tensions between the two countries at the Torkham crossing.
Since IEA’s takeover in August 2021, this is the second time that border guards of the two sides have engaged in an armed clash.
According to experts, if the authorities of the two countries do not pay serious attention to the fundamental solution of this problem, such conflicts can further damage the relations between the two countries in the future.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced on Tuesday the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from prison.
According to the ministry, Coyle’s mother had written to the leader of the Islamic Emirate demanding amnesty and the release of her son on the occasion of Eid. The Supreme Court considered time served sufficient and decided to release him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this action was carried out on the basis of humanitarianism and good faith, and it believes that such measures can strengthen trust between countries. The ministry also expressed hope that both countries, in the future, can find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Islamic Emirate also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in this matter.
Separately, for Coyle’s release, an American delegation, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met on Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
The meeting was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, Ambassador of the UAE in Kabul, and a member of the prisoner’s family.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi stated that the Islamic Emirate has not detained any citizen of any country to achieve political objectives; rather, detentions were the result of legal violations, and individuals were released after completing judicial procedures.
At the meeting, Khalilzad praised the action of the Islamic Emirate and emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on all issues between the two countries, expressing hope for further progress in the future.
Muttaqi also stressed that Kabul and the UAE should provide standard consular services to their citizens, and that the Afghan government is fully prepared in this regard.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for their constructive role in facilitating the release of the prisoner and referred to the UAE as a close friend of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Muttaqi had also praised the role of the State of Qatar in facilitating information exchange between the Islamic Emirate and the prisoner’s family.
Additionally, the UAE ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to play a role in humanitarian institutions and called such developments beneficial for everyone.
The United Kingdom has announced an additional £3 million (AFN 257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, aimed at supporting people affected by natural disasters and other shocks.
Richard Lindsay, in a post on X, said the funding will be used to provide essential nutrition supplies and related support to vulnerable populations.
The new allocation brings the UK’s total bilateral assistance to Afghanistan for the current financial year to £154 million (AFN 13.18 billion).
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