Brief restriction: Torkham reopens following Pak-Afghan talks

Officials agree to implement strict checks for travel documents on both sides of the border.

LANDI KOTAL: The Torkham political administration reopened the Torkham border crossing on Wednesday after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to implement a comprehensive mechanism to check travel documents on both sides.

Senior officials from both countries agreed to carry out stringent border checks at a meeting held in Islamabad, confirmed Assistant Tehsildar Miraj Khan. “We were later ordered to reopen Torkham after successful talks.”

The border was closed on Tuesday for those not carrying the required travel documents. A scuffle between Pak-Afghan border officials also broke out over allowing people to cross over without necessary documentation.

“Both sides agreed to avoid any circumstances which could escalate tensions between border officials of the two countries in the future,” added Miraj Khan.

The official expressed regret over such incidents as well as conflicts between the two governments that affected citizens of both countries.

Khan said the administration took all measures to provide facilities to those stranded on Pakistan’s side of the border. “We accommodated passengers in mosques and hujras in nearby residential areas last night.”

However, two Afghan citizens, who were brought to Peshawar for medical treatment, died following the border’s closure, confirmed the assistant tehsildar.

Khan went on to say travellers were allowed to cross over into Afghanistan in and organised manner. Awami National Party candidate Malik Darya Khan and officials of the political administration met with transporters to request they allow people on foot to cross the border first.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2013.