Tension escalates: Pak-Afghan border remains closed on second day

TORKHAM: Tension amongst traders and transporters from Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated as the border at Torkham remains closed on the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

Hundreds of vehicles loaded with goods have remained stranded on both sides of the border for the last two days.

Officials privy to the development said, authorities in Pakistan closed the Pak-Afghan border on Tuesday when Afghan border security officials stopped Pakistani security forces from installing barbed wire along the border. However, the Pakistani authorities said the move was part of the National Action Plan, which was decided by border security management.

Pakistani officials along the border made it clear they will not open the border until they are allowed to install the barbed wire. On the other hand, Afghan officials insisted on obtaining permission from Kabul.

However, officials from both the countries have confirmed that high-ranking authorities have contacted Afghan ambassador in Islamabad Dr Omar Zakhilwal. So far, negotiations have not yielded positive results. On the other hand, further contingents of military and paramilitary forces were deployed on both sides of the border.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2016.