ISLAMABAD: Pakistan officially commenced the clearance of vital United Nations humanitarian aid consignments for Afghanistan at the Torkham border crossing, marking the first controlled movement of transit cargo since a complete suspension nearly two months ago.
While speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, a customs agent stationed at the Torkham border confirmed the development, saying that trucks carrying relief goods have begun passing through the critical border terminal, but only those carrying a UN-authorized manifest.
The resumption of activity would bring relief to Afghanistan after the halt of all cross-border cargo and Afghan Transit Trade in mid-October, following cross-border skirmishes between the two countries.
The government's decision, driven by directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, permits the movement of consignments belonging to three major UN agencies: World Food Programme, UNICEF, and UN Population Fund.
In the first phase, 143 containers are being cleared through the Torkham and Chaman border crossings. The supplies were urgently needed as an unprepared Afghanistan faces the coming harsh winter.
The clearance would proceed in three stages and would include only essential supplies such as food, medicine, medical equipment, and educational materials.
Officials have made it clear that this controlled reopening is a humanitarian exception and does not signal the restoration of routine commercial trade between the two countries, which will remain shut as before. Only one-way transit of repatriated Afghans is being allowed.
While commercial exports and imports through Torkham and other key crossings remain suspended, the movement of UN aid is a significant step toward easing tensions between the two bordering nations.
