Stranded Pakistanis in Afghanistan can return from April 25

QUETTA: Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan for the last two months due to border closure would be allowed to enter the country from April 25.

Pakistan and Afghan border and security officials decided the initiative in a flag meeting held at Friendship Gate Chaman border on Sunday.

Qilla Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Major (retd) Bashir Ahmed, Col Rashid and other officials represented Pakistan while Col Sharif and an official of Spin Boldak Syed Ali took part in the meeting from Afghanistan.

Besides, the two sides also decided to allow repatriation of stranded Pakistani drivers, who were engaged in Pak-Afghan transit trade, and stranded in Spin Boldak. It was also decided that the Friendship Gate would remain open for two days in a week for repatriation of Pakistan nationals.

Around 80 drivers crossed the border on Monday and they were kept at quarantine centre where after the completion of the requisite 14-day period, they would be tested for coronavirus.

The members had decided that the drivers and their assistants would go through screening and coronavirus tests at the Pak-Afghan border. Those whose tests returned negative would be allowed to go home. However, the infected ones would be kept in quarantine centre established near the border area in Chaman.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2020.