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Towr Kham is a separate town from Pakistan's Torkam
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'''Torkham''' ({{lang-ps|طورخم ''Tūrkham''}}) is a border crossing town in the [[Nangarhar province]] of [[Afghanistan]] and the [[Khyber Agency]] of [[Pakistan|Pakistan's]] [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]], right on the [[Durand Line]] border.<ref name=UsAid20040324>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/documents/countries/afghanistan/033104_report.pdf
|format=PDF| title=Rebuilding Afghanistan: Strengthening the Government
| publisher=[[USAID]]
| date=March 24, 2004
| accessdate=2008-01-22
}}</ref><ref name=NewYorkTimes20011116>
{{cite news
| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E4D6143BF935A25752C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
| title= A NATION CHALLENGED: AFGHANISTAN REDUX; Warlord Rule Is Re-emerging In Some Towns
| publisher=[[New York Times]]
| author=[[David Rohde]]
| date= November 16, 2001
| accessdate=2008-02-19
| quote=
}}</ref><ref name=ddafg20060404>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.ddrafg.com/images/ANP/DASH-A%2004-01%20ANP%20Towr%20Kham%20border.pdf
|format=PDF| title=ANP secure Torkham border
| page=
| pages=
| publisher=[[Defense and Security, Afghanistan]]
| author=
| date=April 4, 2006
| accessdate=2008-02-19
| quote=
}}</ref>
It is linked by a highway with [[Jalalabad]] to the west and [[Peshawar]] to the east, connecting with [[N-5 National Highway]] all the way to [[Karachi]]. The town is only five kilometres west of the summit of the [[Khyber Pass]]. Torkham is the busiest [[port of entry]] between Afghanistan and Pakistan, serving as a major transporting, shipping, and receiving site between the two neighboring countries.


'''Towr Kham''' is a town in [[Nangarhar province]] of [[Afghanistan]]<ref>[http://www.collinsmaps.com/maps/Afghanistan/Nangarhar/Towr-Kham/P900621.00.aspx Towr Kham] Collins Maps. Retrieved 21 January 2011</ref> .
Torkham and the vast surrounding area is inhabited by ethnic [[Pashtun tribes]] or [[Pashtun people]]. In November 2001 the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that Torkham was the home of [[Hazrat Ali]], an anti-Taliban militia leader who seized power after the Taliban retreated.<ref name=NewYorkTimes20011116/>
The ''New York Times'' reported that Hazrati Ali had joined forces with two other militia leaders, [[Mawlawi]] [[Mohammad Yunus Khalis|Yunis Khalis]], and [[Ezatullah (Sorubi, Nangarhar, 2001)|Ezatullah]], to set up a regional provisional government.

In April 2006 the [[Afghan Border Police]] began requiring travelers crossing the border at Torkham to possess valid travel documents.<ref name=ddafg20060404/><ref name=Afps20060410>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15504
| title=Afghan Police Secure Towr Kham Border
| publisher=[[American Forces Press Service]]
| date=April 10, 2006
| accessdate=2008-02-18
| quote=
}}</ref>

Highway 7 connects Torkham to [[Kabul]].<ref name=DefenseLink20070822>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4025
| title=DoD News Briefing with Lt. Col. Phillips from Afghanistan
| publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]
| author=Lt. Col [[Gordon Phillips]] and State Department Representative [[Shawn Waddoups]]
| date=August 22, 2007
| accessdate=2008-02-10
| quote=As far as the second question about roads to connect to the Ring Road, we have recently received approval to build -- or to make asphalt roads that connect four of the important district centers here in Nangarhar to Highway 1, which is the main road that runs from Torkham gate, the border crossing point with -- between Afghanistan and Pakistan and runs into Kabul and connects with the Ring Road.
}}</ref>

American forces staff the nearby [[Towr Kham Fire Base]].<ref name=DefendAmerica20060526>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/may2006/a052606ms2.html
| title='Fighting Deuce' MPs Patrol Afghan Mountains
| publisher=[[Defend America]]
| author=Sgt. Matt Summers
| date=May 26, 2006
| accessdate=2008-02-18
| quote=
}}</ref><ref name=DefendAmerica20060524>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/may2006/a052406ms3.html
| title=Afghan Border Police, Villagers Secure Border
| page=
| pages=
| publisher=[[Defend America]]
| author=
| date=May 24, 2006
| accessdate=2008-02-18
| quote=
}}</ref>

Torkham lies on the most important supply route for ISAF forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan has used blocking supplies as a bargaining chip, for example as a reaction to coalition forces attacking targets in Pakistan for example in 2008<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/09/2008967658362588.html Pakistan blocks fuel to US forces, SEPTEMBER 06, 2008]</ref> and 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11507472 | title = Pakistan 'to reopen key NATO Afghanistan supply route'| date = 2010-10-09 | accessdate =2010-10-09 | work=BBC News}}</ref>


== Railway ==
== Railway ==
{{See|Rail transport in Afghanistan|Pakistan Railways}}
{{See|Rail transport in Afghanistan}}
⚫
In 1891 the [[British Raj|British]] extended the [[Indian Railways]] (now [[Pakistan Railways]]) to [[Torkham]]. The railway were not extended into Afghanistan to the north and west for political reasons.
{{main|Khyber train safari}}
⚫
In 1891 the [[British Raj|British]] extended the [[Indian Railways]] (now [[Pakistan Railways]]) to Torkham. The rails were not extended into Afghanistan to the north and west for political reasons.


Over much of the last century, there have been proposals to extend the Torkham line to Afghanistan and possibly beyond, passing through Jalalabad. These proposals have the support of the current Afghan government. In July 2010, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a [[Memorandum of understanding]] for going ahead with the laying of [[rail tracks]] between the two countries. Work on the proposed project was supposed to start in 2010.<ref>[http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2010/07/07/pakistan-afghanistan-ink-mou-rail-links Pakistan, Afghanistan ink MoU on rail links]</ref>
Over much of the last century, there have been proposals to extend the Torkham line to Afghanistan and possibly beyond, passing through Jalalabad. These proposals have the support of the current Afghan government. In July 2010, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a [[Memorandum of understanding]] for going ahead with the laying of [[rail tracks]] between the two countries. Work on the proposed project was supposed to start in 2010.<ref>[http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2010/07/07/pakistan-afghanistan-ink-mou-rail-links Pakistan, Afghanistan ink MoU on rail links]</ref>
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[[Category:Afghanistan–Pakistan border crossings]]
[[Category:Afghanistan–Pakistan border crossings]]
[[Category:Nangarhar Province]]
[[Category:Nangarhar Province]]

[[de:Torkham]]

Revision as of 09:42, 21 January 2012

Torkham
Torkham border crossing in September 2011
Torkham border crossing in September 2011
Kabul, Peshawar, and some cities in Nangarhar
Kabul, Peshawar, and some cities in Nangarhar
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceNangarhar Province
Elevation
3,497 ft (1,066 m)
Time zoneUTC+4:30


Towr Kham is a town in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan[1] .

Railway

Further information: Rail transport in Afghanistan

In 1891 the British extended the Indian Railways (now Pakistan Railways) to Torkham. The railway were not extended into Afghanistan to the north and west for political reasons.

Over much of the last century, there have been proposals to extend the Torkham line to Afghanistan and possibly beyond, passing through Jalalabad. These proposals have the support of the current Afghan government. In July 2010, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of understanding for going ahead with the laying of rail tracks between the two countries. Work on the proposed project was supposed to start in 2010.[2]

  • Citizens from both nations crossing the border in 2007
    Citizens from both nations crossing the border in 2007
  • US soldier on the Afghan side in 2007
    US soldier on the Afghan side in 2007
  • Pakistani side of the border crossing in 2004
    Pakistani side of the border crossing in 2004
  • Customs weighing scale in 2004
    Customs weighing scale in 2004

See also

References

  1. ^ Towr Kham Collins Maps. Retrieved 21 January 2011
  2. ^ Pakistan, Afghanistan ink MoU on rail links
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