Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement to reopen the key trade crossing at Torkham border, easing the movement of goods and people between the two countries. After a months-long closure, the border has been reopened for the next two weeks with relaxed visa and passport requirements, allowing hundreds of trucks to cross without such documentation. The closure, which began in January, had stemmed from Islamabad's tighter controls on cross-border movements, requiring visas and passports for drivers from both sides.

Kabul has accused the Taliban government of failing to root out militants staging attacks in Pakistan from their soil, a claim that has been rejected by the Afghan government. The recent move to resume trade and cross-border movements comes in the midst of escalating tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan pressuring the Taliban government to address security concerns, particularly related to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an internal militant threat. Islamabad has also enforced the eviction of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan, resulting in more than half a million Afghans fleeing the country.

Millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years, and the recent forced eviction has led to a significant wave of migrants returning to Afghanistan, many for the first time. These returning migrants have only received modest assistance from the government and NGOs, adding to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The reopening of the Torkham border and the subsequent easing of trade and travel restrictions are a positive step forward for the two neighboring countries, bringing hope for improved relations and regional stability.