Peshawar to Torkham: Distance, Route and Border Status

Torkham is about 58 to 60 km from Peshawar by road, roughly an hour's drive, through Jamrud and the Khyber Pass. That is the easy part. The harder question is whether you can, or should, go: Torkham is on the Afghan border, the crossing has been closed to trade and ordinary travellers for much of the past year, and the Khyber area is covered by strict security advice.

This guide gives the route and distance, explains the border's recent status, and says plainly what to check before anyone plans a trip. It is not encouragement to go.

The road from Peshawar to Torkham

The road leaves Peshawar westward through Jamrud, where Jamrud Fort marks the mouth of the pass. The Khyber Pass then runs about 53 km to the Afghan border at Torkham, climbing through Landi Kotal. Total road distance is around 36.5 miles, which is about 59 km, and the drive is normally about an hour.

The old railway line up the pass is defunct, so there is no train. Vehicles are the only way, and checkpoints along the route can add delay.

Is Torkham border open?

Not reliably. Reporting from Kabul Now says the crossing has been closed since October 2025. It was partially reopened in March 2026 only for Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan, and then closed again after a cross-border firing incident that injured a Frontier Corps soldier. Trade, commercial traffic and general passenger travel remained suspended.

In August 2026 Pakistan's Interior Minister said border crossings and transit routes would be reopened, but officials did not confirm it at that point. The situation moves quickly, so check the latest news the day before. If you are planning to cross, you also need a valid passport and a visa for the other country, and a CNIC alone is not enough to cross.

Can tourists go to Torkham?

Pakistani visitors mostly go as far as Jamrud or the Khyber viewpoints, not to the border gate. Reports say that beyond Jamrud you must obtain a permit and travel with an armed guard, and that foreign nationals need an NOC for the tribal districts. Requirements change, so confirm with the KP Tourism Department or the district administration and don't assume you can just drive up.

Is it safe?

The UK government advises against all travel to Khyber and Peshawar and to anywhere within 10 miles of the Afghan border, which includes Torkham. There has been serious violence in the province in 2026, including the Kohat Police Lines attack on 18 September, and border clashes with Afghanistan earlier in the year. Pakistani travellers do use the road for work, but treat it as somewhere to go only with local advice, in daylight and never on impulse. Check local news and police guidance before setting out. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, because travelling against it can void insurance. Our Peshawar safety guide has the wider picture.

Practical notes if you do travel the road

• Go in the morning. Checkpoints, traffic at Jamrud and the climb through the pass all take time, and you want to be back in Peshawar before dark.
• Carry ID and copies. Expect to show your CNIC, or passport for foreigners, at several checkpoints.
• Don't photograph checkpoints or security posts. Ask before taking pictures anywhere near them.
• Don't plan on the border gate as a sight. Even when it is open for crossings, it is a working customs and immigration point, not a viewpoint.
• Keep the plan flexible. A closure or a security incident on the day can end the trip at Jamrud, so don't book anything non-refundable that depends on reaching Torkham.

What to do instead

If what you want is the Khyber Pass experience, there are lower-risk ways to see the history from the Peshawar side: Bala Hisar Fort and the old city, or the Khyber train safari when it runs. Our Peshawar 1-day itinerary is a sensible substitute, and the travel guide has advice for planning elsewhere in the north.

Frequently asked questions