Pak-Afghan joint Grand tribal jirga agrees on ceasefire to end Torkham border tensions
Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: The first session of a Pakistan-Afghanistan grand tribal jirga was held at the Torkham border with an agreement on an 11-day ceasefire, effective until March 11. Both sides pledged to halt all construction along the Torkham border while jirga members assess disputed military installations built by Afghan forces in Pakistani territory, official sources said on Sunday.
The sources said that Pakistan formed a 40-member jirga comprising tribal elders, political and social figures, religious scholars and business representatives from Khyber district, while Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province assembled a 35-member grand jirga, including tribal elders and business personalities. The meeting was of two rounds held on Pakistani side of the Torkham border’s Zero Point transit terminal. The jirga lasted for more than 4 hours.
By tribal traditions, both sides agreed to enforce(Teega) a ceasefire between Pakistani and Afghan forces until March 11, during which all construction activities on both sides of the border will remain suspended.
Additionally, jirga members decided to jointly inspect the disputed military installations set up by Afghan forces near the border. If the assessment confirms that these installations fall within Pakistani territory, Afghan forces will be required to halt construction permanently.
Jirga sources stated that if the dispute over military structures is resolved within the agreed timeframe, the Torkham border will be reopened for all types of movement on March 11. Both governments have endorsed the Jirga’s role and committed to implementing its final decision.
The border tensions began when Afghan forces started constructing military installations near Torkham, reportedly within Pakistani territory. This led to armed clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces, escalating the situation and resulting in the closure of the border crossing.
During the clashes, eight personnel from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) sustained injuries, while three Afghan soldiers were killed. The fighting further deepened mistrust between the two nations, prompting the involvement of tribal elders to mediate the crisis.
For the past 16 days, the closure of Torkham has severely impacted bilateral trade and regional connectivity. The crossing is a key trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as a major transit point for Central Asian trade.
Customs officials estimate that the daily trade loss due to the closure is approximately $3 million, totaling around $45 million over the past two weeks. Essential goods, including food supplies and medical shipments, have also been delayed, affecting businesses and consumers on both sides of the border.
The closure has also disrupted the movement of thousands of people. Immigration officials report that an average of 10,000 individuals cross the Torkham border daily for business, medical treatment, and family visits. The shutdown has left many stranded, further increasing tensions.
Jirga leaders stressed that resolving the dispute peacefully is in the best interest of both nations. They expressed optimism that the ceasefire and negotiations would lead to a lasting solution, ensuring stability and economic activity in the border region.
With the backing of both governments, the jirga’s efforts represent a significant step toward easing tensions. If the agreement holds, trade and travel at the Torkham border could resume smoothly after March 11, restoring normalcy to one of the busiest border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on his social media message that both Afghanistan and Pakistan need to focus on reaching an agreement that neither side’s soil will be used to threaten the other.
He stated there has been fighting for more than a week now between border forces at Torkham.
“People are dying, and others are becoming refugees. Traders on both sides are losing millions of dollars. Each is accusing the other of sheltering extremist groups inimical to them”, said Zalmay Khalilzad.
He said diplomacy was a better option than trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and that it could benefit everyone if it was between them and that Central Asia could benefit everyone.
