Dosti on hold: Closure of Pak-Afghan bus service distresses passengers

K-P transport director says he has sent recommendations to govt to resume the service

PESHAWAR: The Pak-Afghan Dosti Bus Service, which kicked off with the aim to facilitate passengers on both sides of the border, has been banned since May 2016. The closure of the service has wrought miseries for several passengers who are now facing tremendous difficulties. Besides, transporters have incurred losses of millions of rupees. The agreement, along with operational protocols, was signed on March 23, 2005 between Pakistan and Afghanistan on routes from Peshawar to Jalalabad and Quetta to Kandahar.



According to details available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Communication, the Peshawar-Jalalabad Bus Service has been in operation since May 27, 2006. However, the Quetta-Kandahar Bus Service has yet to commence, mainly due to security reasons and the finalisation of operational details.

According to Pak-Afghan Dosti Bus Service Managing Director Nasar Khan, the service has been terminated by the Afghanistan government. While speaking to The Express Tribune on Monday, Nasar says the service has been suspended since May 30. The issue has yet to be resolved, despite efforts and the matter being raised with the authorities concerned.



Nasar’s company has 13 buses which used to travel on a daily basis to and from Afghanistan with 400 to 700 passengers on board. He highlighted Afghanistan has suspended the service for security reasons.

He added five companies were given permit letters under the agreement that was signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan governments. Later, two of them were put on the blacklist by the Pakistan government due to security reasons.

He alleged that in retaliation, the Afghanistan government suspended the bus service just a few days after being put on the blacklist of the companies. “The Afghan transport mafia, supported by its government, is the biggest hurdle in the reinstatement of the bus service,” he claimed.

Domino effect

“Millions [of rupees] have been lost by the service since the suspension and this had led to suspension of salaries of the staffers affiliated with the service,” he concludes.

Nasar, however, remains optimistic that the service will be reinstated. He says it is not just a bus service, but a token of love and friendship among both nations. “I wish both the Pakistan and Afghan governments negotiate to restart the service in the larger interest of the public who travel to and from Afghanistan,” Nasar maintained.

On the other hand, drivers and facilitating staff affiliated with the service have also been suffering due to the ending of this service.

Sohail Khan, a bus driver, told The Express Tribune he has not received his salary.  He added routine life has been affected and the family did not even have money to run household expenses. Passengers facilitated by the service on both sides of the border demand the service be resumed.



Musafar Khan, a resident of Jalaabad, who runs a shop in Peshawar’s Karkhano Market, said he used to travel in the Dosti bus every week to Afghanistan to meet his family due to the reasonable fare. He has been unable to visit his  loved ones ever since the closure of the service.

K-P Transport Director Manzoor Ahmad told The Express Tribune the service has been suspended for multiple reasons. He says licences of two buses, which were part of the Pak-Afghan Dosti Bus Service, were cancelled by Pakistani authorities due to security clearance reasons.

However, Ahmad pointed out his department has sent recommendations to the Federal Ministry of Communication to formulate a policy to resume the bus service. “I have sent a letter with recommendations, but it has yet to receive a reply.” The official says he is looking forward to meeting Afghanistan and Pakistan officials over the issue.

He concluded the procedure will take time to complete, but the service will continue. “The issue surfaced owing to the recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the Torkham border.”

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