PESHAWAR: Pakistan has allowed a United Nations World Food Programme convoy carrying essential food supplies to cross the Torkham border into Afghanistan for the first time in nine months, marking a humanitarian gesture amid continued tensions between the two neighbors.
For the first time since the border closure with Afghanistan, a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) convoy of more than 20 trucks loaded with critical food supplies crossed the Torkham border terminal from Pakistan into Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
This is the first time in nine months that transit cargo has been permitted to pass through this major border crossing.
The crossing had remained tightly sealed to transit and commercial goods since Oct. 12, 2025, following an escalation between the two neighbors regarding border security.
The 26 WFP container trucks, carrying vital food items including high-energy biscuits, edible oil, and other items, arrived at the Torkham terminal from Karachi.
However, because the gate passes were issued late Monday evening and the border gate officially closed for the night at 8:00 pm, the convoy was held up overnight.
‘Rigorous electronic scanning’
“The vehicles were escorted to the Zero Point, where 21 of the 26 containers successfully crossed into Afghanistan, with the remaining five following on Wednesday,” said Yasir Khan from the Collectorate of Customs, Peshawar.
The vehicles underwent rigorous electronic scanning and standard customs clearance procedures, he added.
Food security in Afghanistan is one of the biggest issues the country faces, as 17 million people face malnutrition and food scarcity, according to the WFP.
In the latest report from UNICEF, 3.7 million children under five in Afghanistan are at heightened risk of malnutrition due to food insecurity and poor diets.
Afghanistan, which relies heavily on imports of staples like cooking oil, rice, and fuel, has suffered intense market pressures and price spikes. Security issues and natural disasters have also been contributing factors.
Humanitarian diplomacy
The clearance of these essential trucks shows Pakistan's commitment to humanitarian diplomacy.
While the two countries remain on high alert following skirmishes less than a month ago, Pakistan has maintained that its problem is with the Taliban allowing the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate against Pakistan from Afghan soil, not with the Afghan people.
Earlier this year, a similar WFP convoy of approximately 20 containers was turned back to Karachi after the Taliban administration in Kabul refused entry to the trucks carrying humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, claiming it had not received formal written notification regarding the UN shipment.
The aid shipment is part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to support vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, as the Taliban have not been able to solve the severe food crisis in Afghanistan.
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