Traders demand visa-free Afghan travel

Stage sit-in against restrictions recently introduced by federal government

QUETTA:

The political parties and traders on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against strict checking at the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman, demanding visa-free movement for the people living on both sides of the border.

Hundreds of protesters blocked the main road near the Chaman border, demanding of the provincial and federal governments address their grievances.

Salahuddin Achakzai and other political leaders led the protesters, chanting slogans against the new policy under which only people with valid visas were allowed to enter Pakistan.

All the political parties of Chaman, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Balochistan Awami Party, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Mazloom Olsi Tehreek and Pakistan Muslim League-Q, as well as civil society and local residents participated in the sit-in in large numbers.

The protesters demanded an end to all conditions, including passports and valid visas, for the movement at the border.

Also read: Pakistan to introduce ‘single-document regime’ for Afghan travelers

They said people living on both sides of the border were facing problems because of the recent conditions introduced by the government due to deteriorating relationships between Kabul and Islamabad.

The protesters stated the movement of the people was the only means of employment in these areas and closure of the border or strict conditions for entry into both the countries will never be tolerated by the people of Chaman and Boldak.

People would not accept these measures like imposing condition of entry on visa and tightening the supply of merchandise and the sit-in and protest would continue till all the demands were accepted, the protesters added.

“We demand that the Pak-Afghan border should be reopened and the old system of travel should be introduced back for the benefit of the people on both sides of the border,” the speakers said, adding that such harsh measures would only create problems for the local residents whose only source of income was the cross-border trade between the two countries.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2023.