KHYBER: A whole lot of annoyed Afghans thronged the Torkham border crossing on Friday afternoon after border safety officers of each Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to partially reopen the border for pedestrian motion on each side.
Sources at Torkham instructed Daybreak that the problem of resumption of bilateral commerce, nonetheless, remained unresolved through the talks held on the Pakistan aspect of the border.
Officers mentioned as many as 500 stranded Pakistani got here again after the border was reopened, whereas practically 900 Afghans, with legitimate journey paperwork, have been allowed to return to Afghanistan after the closed-door assembly between safety officers of Border Coordination Committee of each nations.
Commandant Khyber Rifles Col Naumanul Haq headed the Pakistan aspect and was assisted by Lt Col Bilal, Lt Col Mujtaba Naseer and Maj Kamran, whereas the Afghan delegation included Attaullah, Qari Yousaf, Commander Qari Hanzala, Qari Sabit and 5 others.
Vans line up on each side as dialogue on resumption of bilateral commerce stays inconclusive
Throughout the assembly that lasted over two hours, border points have been mentioned intimately and each side agreed to partially reopen the border for pedestrians’ motion to permit the stranded nationals of each nations to cross over to their respective homelands.
Healthcare amenities
The assembly additionally agreed to reopen Dosti hospital for provision of emergency medical remedy to the ailing Afghans and likewise checking the medical standing of the Afghans coming to Pakistan for medical remedy.
The officers of each nations, nonetheless, did not arrive at any conclusion over the much-awaited resumption of bilateral commerce. A whole lot of vehicles loaded with a number of commerce merchandise have been nonetheless parked on roadsides, resulting in the Torkham border.
Sources at Torkham instructed Daybreak that the Afghan aspect insisted on exemption of visa restriction for Afghan cleaner (assistant), accompanying drivers whereas bringing commerce items from Afghanistan.
Afghan transporters had lengthy been demanding permission for his or her cleaners to cross over to Pakistan together with the proprietor/driver of the automobile bringing Afghan import gadgets to Pakistan as they undergo further monetary burden whereas arranging an area (Pakistani) cleaner for his or her automobile after coming into Pakistan.
That they had argued that aside from paying further cash to native ‘helpers’, they have been additionally confronted with a belief deficit between them and their ‘stranger’ cleaner on Pakistan aspect.
Pakistan had lengthy imposed a ban on Afghans entry on its soil with out authorized journey paperwork whereas a majority of the Afghan cleaners have been both with out visas or they might not afford to shoulder the burden of buying each passports and visas.
Revealed in Daybreak, February twenty fifth, 2023
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