Pakistan Signals Potential Reopening of Torkham and Chaman Borders for UN Aid

Pakistan has indicated plans to reopen two key border crossings with Afghanistan to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid from the United Nations, according to international media reports. However, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that he will consult with the prime minister and military leadership before issuing a formal decision.

The Torkham and Chaman crossings, which link Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces with Afghanistan, have been closed since October 12 following deadly attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. The shutdown has severely disrupted the flow of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medical aid, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Speaking from Islamabad on Saturday, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, confirmed that “the United Nations had formally requested permission to resume aid shipments into Afghanistan.” He added that consultations with the military leadership have taken place, but an official response from the government is still pending.

The temporary closure of these crossings comes amid escalating violence from TTP militants, who are reportedly operating from Afghan territory. The group has been responsible for over 500 deaths in Pakistan this year, including more than 300 security personnel, straining relations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban, who have been in power in Kabul since 2021.

Earlier this month, Pakistan briefly allowed the crossings to reopen to facilitate the return of Afghan refugees, but commercial and humanitarian traffic remains restricted. The potential reopening of Torkham and Chaman would restore critical lifelines for humanitarian aid and alleviate some of Afghanistan’s pressing needs.