LANDIKOTAL: The Torkham border remained closed for the second day as the third round of talks between Pakistani and Afghan authorities failed to reduce the tension over installation of barbed wire and fencing in Pakistani territory, official sources said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of stranded passengers including women and children stayed in mosques, hotels and other empty buildings Tuesday night at Torkham, Landikotal and nearby areas. They were anxiously waiting for opening of the border so that they could start their journey towards their destination.
The locals, as a goodwill gesture, provided food and shelter to the Afghans who spent a night in the open at different places in Landikotal.More than 300 Afghan passengers took shelter in an under-construction mosque in the busy Landikotal bazaar. Members of Landikotal Press Club provided mats to Afghans in the bazaar.
Sources said that both the countries moved their security personnel close to the Torkham border. The troops were backed by tanks and armoured vehicles. The Afghan side was the first to make the move and send reinforcements to the border,
A source in Torkham administration offices told The News that all the residents and workers of private offices were asked to leave Torkham border area to avoid human losses if the situation got out of control.
Schools, customs offices, Nadra Swift Centre, Rahdari registration booths, customs clearing agents’ offices and hotels also remained closed on the second day.Speaking to this correspondent, an Afghan security personnel standing alert near the border said they did not want a clash with Pakistan at any cost.
An Afghan border policeman, who did not want to be named, said he was not happy with the escalation and movement of security forces close to the border. He said it was not good for the Afghans and Pakistanis to have a hostile situation at the border.
Around 50 trucks and trailers loaded with fresh fruit and vegetables were stranded for the second day on the Pakistani side of the border.The transporters were seen placing ice-blocks in the vegetables and fruit to keep it from becoming rotten.
The Afghan security personnel also asked the people to leave the area as all the shops dealing in auto spare parts and other commodities were closed on the Afghan side of the border. Both the countries only allowed serious patients and coffins to cross the border. The Pakistani authorities allowed the bodies of eight persons who had died in Pakistan to be shifted to Afghanistan. Some seriously ill Afghan patients were also allowed entry into Pakistan.
The Afghan armoured vehicles and Afghan National Army personnel were seen moving near the Torkham border. Political Agent of Khyber Agency Captain (R) Khalid Mehmood , who remained in the border area for the entire day, said they were in contact with the Afghan government to resolve the issue peacefully.
He said that another round of dialogue was expected soon. “I hope the situation will become normal soon and people of both the countries would be allowed to cross the border,” he said.
He added that only Afghans with valid travel documents would be given permission to enter Pakistan. It was learnt that an Afghan delegation comprising senior officials from Kabul was due in a few hours to meet their Pakistani counter parts at Torkham to defuse the tension.http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/119355-Torkham-border-remains-closed-for-second-day
Comments are closed.