KHYBER: Torkham Border customs authorities have cleared 26 World Food Programme (WFP) containers carrying food and essential supplies for Afghanistan despite the continued closure of the border crossing.

Customs officials issued gate passes to the humanitarian convoy on Monday after completing the required clearance process at the Torkham import terminal.

Customs clearing agents said the containers arrived at the terminal early in the morning. Officials kept the convoy waiting for several hours while they sought final approval from higher authorities.

Late in the evening, customs authorities issued gate passes even though the border remained officially closed for regular cross-border movement.

The agents said officials completed all customs formalities, including electronic scanning. Authorities told them the cleared containers would move into Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The convoy carries food and other essential supplies under the World Food Programme’s humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, authorities returned a similar convoy of about 20 WFP containers to Karachi after the Afghan Taliban refused to accept the UN agency’s aid.

Officials expect the fate of the latest shipment to become clear on Tuesday when Afghan Taliban authorities decide whether to allow the containers to enter Afghanistan.

The Torkham border, one of the busiest trade crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has remained closed since October 2025 because of the deteriorating security situation along the frontier.