ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) humanitarian cargo of 20 containers loaded with food supplies, including biscuits and edible oil, crossed the Torkham border into Afghanistan on Tuesday, following permission from the Afghan regime, senior Customs and Border Security officials revealed.
For the first time in nine months, transit cargo trucks were allowed to cross into Afghanistan through the Torkham border after Pak-Afghan relations worsened, leading to the closure of the border for transit and the movement of goods on Oct 12, 2025, following a series of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan soil.
The consignment had arrived in Torkham on Monday night under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to move across the border, officials added.
Earlier on December 31, 2025, the Afghan regime had refused to receive the relief supplies, stating that it had not been formally informed in writing by the UN about the shipment.
After finalizing customs clearance and obtaining the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities, the convoy was allowed to move across the border.
The aid shipment is part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to support vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, a UN official said.
It is worth mentioning here that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had granted permission for the transit of UN humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing point, said an official notification.
The approval follows requests submitted by the UN Resident Coordinator in letters dated May 25 and July 7, 2026, addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, seeking facilitation for the movement of humanitarian supplies destined for Afghanistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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