Tribal people want Pak-Afghan border reopened

Say if the govt did let the border open, they would protests in Peshawar, outside Parliament House

PARACHINAR: After 13 days of the Pakistan-Afghan border closure at Kurram Agency, the tribal people have urged the K-P governor, security forces and the political administration to re-open the border for all sorts of communications so that it would ease the people’s suffering.

Trade union president Masaaib Hussain, while talking to the media on Friday, said that the government had announced the closure of the border on Oct 15, after an IED attack on the security forces in which four troops were martyred.

Hussain said most residents of the border villages relied on the income from trade and other activities at the border and such sanctions, if continued, would leave them starving.

Also present at the media talk, president of all transport association Rauf Hussain demanded of the government to re-open the border so that those relying on such income could minimise their suffering.

Rauf also urged Kabul to let the trade resume between the two countries and to give peace a chance.

Both the union heads as well as residents said if the government did let the border open, they would protests in Peshawar and outside the parliament house.