Hundreds rally against Torkham closure

Protesters call for visa-free movement of truck drivers across Pak-Afghan border

LANDI KOTAL:

Hundreds of local residents, customs agents, and traders organized a protest demonstration on Wednesday against the closure of the Torkham border in Landi Kotal, Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The demonstrators accused the federal government of jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of customs agents, drivers, truck helpers, and restaurant owners.

The Torkham border is the primary crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, serving as the busiest trade route. However, for the past four days, the border has remained closed, disrupting the entire border trade and impacting the income of numerous families.

A local resident expressed frustration, telling The Express Tribune that for the past four decades, people from both countries were permitted to cross the border without visa restrictions. However, the sudden announcement by the federal government now requires even truck drivers to have passports and visas.

“This enforcement has effectively halted the Pak-Afghan trade for the time being, depriving thousands of families of their source of income,” he added.

President of the Torkham Custom Clearance Agents Association, Aimal Khan Shinwari, highlighted that the closure was causing a daily loss of Rs150 million to the national exchequer.

Thousands of trucks, many loaded with perishable goods like vegetables and fruits, were stranded on both sides of the border, with a few days’ shelf life remaining.

Custom agents urged the federal government to reconsider the stringent rules and regulations, advocating for allowing truck drivers to cross the border without visa restrictions.

The closure of the Torkham border has continued for the fifth consecutive day, and a flag meeting between officials from both sides regarding visa restrictions for cargo vehicle drivers yielded no resolution.

Pakistan has made visa mandatory for the drivers of commercial vehicles entering the country from Afghanistan.

Read Torkham border shut as talks remain inconclusive

The imposition of visa requirements for Afghan cargo vehicle drivers on November 1, 2023, aimed at enhancing security, preventing smuggling, and promoting legal bilateral trade.

However, the Afghan government showed a lack of urgency in implementing the policy, leading to the recent closure. The closure has resulted in significant losses for traders, with fresh produce on more than 100 vehicles going to waste, incurring losses in the tens of millions of rupees.

Customs officials revealed that the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan generated an average of Rs50 million in daily revenues. The closure also impacted the Torkham Transport Union, with President Haji Azimullah noting the adverse effects on vehicles, transporters, and labor earnings.

During a flag meeting at the Torkham Frontier Corps conference hall, Pakistani security officials emphasized the necessity of the visa requirement to prevent smuggling and promote legal trade.

However, Afghan authorities argued that obtaining Pakistani visas for Afghan drivers was practically impossible. Despite the special measures taken for two-way traffic, the standoff persists, with no resolution in sight.

Security officials stated that the federal government instituted the visa requirement for drivers of Afghan cargo vehicles on November 1, 2023. The Afghan government was granted a two-and-a-half-month period to implement the policy. However, they emphasized that the Afghan authorities displayed a lack of seriousness regarding the measure, noting that drivers from the other side often failed to carry their necessary travel documents. Consequently, the government implemented the visa policy four days ago, resulting in the prohibition of drivers without visas from entering the country.

Qari Nazeem Gul and Kharij Khan, engaged in the import and export of fresh fruits and vegetables, lamented that the closure of the border crossing led to the loss of their perishable commodities. They stated that over 100 vehicles carrying their goods had been affected.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2024.