Trump Declassifies China Election Intelligence, Revives 2020 Election Security Claims 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Trump to Deliver National Address on 2020 Election Intelligence, Voting Machine Security 
Trump Orders ICE to Resume Traffic Stops After Deadly Immigration Enforcement Incidents 
Trump Says U.S. Strikes on Iran Will Continue Until Nuclear Deal Is Reached 
US Military Launches New Strikes on Iran, Targets Threats to Strait of Hormuz Shipping 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Hegseth Defends Blue Angels After Low Flyover Sparks Safety Review 
Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Kills Indian Crew Member in Strait of Hormuz 
Xi Jinping Calls for People-Centered AI Development at WAIC, Expands Global Cooperation 
Senate Weighs Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill as Support Remains Uncertain 
Trump Slams New York Data Center Ban, Warns AI Investment Could Shift to Other States 
Ukraine, EU Sign Landmark Drone Deal to Boost Defense Production 
Russian and Ukrainian Strikes Kill at Least 13 as Attacks Intensify Across Frontline Regions 
NY Times Challenges Trump Administration Subpoenas Over Air Force One Report 
Trump Administration Launches AI Cybersecurity Partnership to Protect Critical Infrastructure 
US Troop Pullback Raises NATO Security Concerns Amid Russia Tensions 
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration announced that they would be reopening the country’s key trade route with Pakistan. The reopening comes four days after the border crossing was closed off and left many trucks carrying food and other items stranded in the area.
The Taliban government announced the reopening of the Torkham border crossing it shares with Pakistan four days after the border was closed off. The decision by the Taliban to reopen the border crossing follows the meeting between a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif visited Afghanistan’s capital Kabul the day before to discuss security, among other issues.
The delegation met with Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and other Taliban officials. At the time, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad announced that the Torkham trade route would be reopened on Thursday due to a “breach of commitments” by Pakistan.
Pakistani officials said on Thursday that they would be reopening their side of the border after completing the “administrative requirements.”
“We are just completing the necessary documentation and other administrative work before reopening the gate which is expected in another few hours,” said a Pakistani security official to Al Jazeera.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a 2,600-kilometer-long border. The Taliban said it closed the Torkham border crossing due to Islamabad allegedly denying entry to Afghan migrants seeking medical care. Pakistan has accused the insurgent group of harboring armed attackers that are members of the outlawed Pakistan Taliban, also known as the TTP.
The TTP has been accused of the surge of violent attacks across Pakistan, killing dozens. The meeting in Kabul was amidst the TTP’s attacks in the country.
A report released on Thursday by the Crisis Group warned against international donors cutting off aid to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s policies barring women from participating in aid work and education.
The report called for Western countries to find a “liminal space between pariah and legitimate status” in order to respond to the humanitarian crisis the country has been under since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of foreign military forces.
