The Pakistan-Afghanistan Kharlachi border crossing has remained closed for the past 19 days due to heightened border tensions, causing severe hardship for traders, daily wage earners, and Afghan patients seeking medical treatment in Pakistan.

Afghan nationals told the media that patients are facing great difficulty reaching Kurram district for medical care. They said that, in the past, Pakistani authorities used to issue temporary permits on humanitarian grounds, but the prolonged closure has now completely cut off access to treatment.

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Traders said that the Kharlachi crossing was a key route for bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, facilitating the exchange of textiles, fruits, dry fruits, grains, livestock, and other essential commodities. The continued closure has not only disrupted trade but also led to a sharp increase in the prices of daily necessities on both sides of the border.