LANDIKOTAL
Travelers including women, elderly men,truckers and traders complained that the Torkham border meant to be a bridge between the two brotherly nations has become a nightmare of delays, humiliation and official apathy.
Talking to The News travlers on Tuesday said that they in the harsh heat of summer waiting in long congusted queues for hours to cross the border. The message is clear for those crossing the Torkham border that
“you are not welcome with dignity,” said Mirwes Mohmand, a trader from Lalpura. “We spend hours in queues under the open sky, without water or shelter. Elderly and sick people collapse in the heat, but no one listens.”
The border, one of South Asia’s busiest land crossings, lacks basic facilities. Passengers complain of slow biometric systems, insufficient staff and uncoordinated checks by multiple agencies.
Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce in Industry(PAJCCI) has long raised concerns about the state of the crossing point.
“The government must establish separate lanes for cargo and passengers to avoid the current mess,” he said. “There are too few biometric scanners and even those often break down. Proper maintenance is urgently needed.”
He stressed the importance of dignity and ease at the border, particularly for the vulnerable. “We need shaded, ventilated waiting halls with clean drinking water and functional toilets. Treating people with respect is not a luxury but it’s a basic requirement,” Sarhadi said.
Referring to the behavior of border personnel, Sarhadi also called for training in cultural sensitivity. “Most travelers belong to tribal areas. Officials must understand local customs and norms. A little respect goes a long way.”
He further recommended reducing the number of government agencies involved in routine checking. “Currently, multiple departments duplicate each other’s work, creating delays and confusion. There should be a single-window operation,” he suggested.
To improve coordination and resolve issues in real time, Sarhadi proposed the formation of a joint monitoring cell between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “A bilateral mechanism can help solve ground-level problems faster and reduce tensions,” he said.
Local elder Haji Shah Nawaz from Shinwari tribe also expressed anger over the treatment of tribal passengers. “Even patients and women are made to stand in line for hours. Where is the humanity?” he asked.
Students and business travelers have raised similar concerns. “I missed a university entrance interview in Jalalabad because the line at immigration took seven hours,” said Fazal Rabi, a student from Peshawar. “No one cared.”
Despite repeated assurances from authorities, no major improvements have been made in recent months. Trade remains slow, humanitarian concerns are growing and trust on both sides of the border is fading.
Until meaningful reforms were not introduced and implemented with seriousness, experts warn that economic cooperation and diplomatic dialogue would ring hollow.
“The border should be a place of connection, not conflict,” Sarhadi said. “Respect and reform must come now.”
