This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Pakistani authorities have banned the entry of Afghan drivers through the Torkham border crossing as of August 1 unless they have passports and visas.
Torkham, a critical trade route between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, had been reopened by Pakistan in January after a 10-day closure prompted by Islamabad’s imposing passport and visa requirements on Afghan drivers.
Pakistan initially set an April 1 deadline for compliance, but then extended it until August 1.
lslamabad’s move to require visas and passports — documents many Afghans do not have — came as Pakistan accused the Taliban of allowing militants to stage attacks across the border from Afghanistan’s territory.
