Pakistani trucks restricted beyond Jalalabad

Call on authorities to engage with Afghanistan to seek a solution

BARA:

The Afghan government has implemented a ban on Pakistani transporters, restricting them from traveling beyond Jalalabad in the war-torn country. This revelation surfaced during a grand Jirga of the Tribal Transporters Association in Bara, Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Transporters voiced their concerns during the event, emphasizing the long-standing disparity in movement permissions. While Afghan transporters and trucks have had unrestricted access to all corners of Pakistan for the past 40 years, the Taliban government in Kabul has, without apparent justification, limited the mobility of Pakistani trucks.

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Expressing frustration, the transporters highlighted the consequential challenges faced by local transporters due to the restrictions, urging Pakistani officials to address the matter.

They suggested adopting a reciprocal approach by restricting the movement of Afghan trucks beyond Peshawar in response to the limitations imposed on Pakistani trucks.

Critiquing the perceived lack of seriousness in resolving the issue, they called on authorities to engage with Afghanistan and seek a solution.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2023.