An Iranian border guard looks through a pair of binoculars to monitor a border area in southeastern Iran. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The transit permit, known as Rahdari, had been issued by Deputy Commissioners under the 1956 agreement between Iran and Pakistan.
According to the 1956 agreement between Iran and Pakistan, people who obtain the Rahdari or ‘red pass’ are allowed to travel to Iran to visit their relatives living on the other side of the border.
Three years ago, Iranian officials had made changes making only Deputy Commissioners authorised to issue the Rahdari pass. Prior to that Assistant Commissioners and other officials were also allowed to issue the Rahdari to people residing in the border region.
Iranian border guards have deported around five families in spite of them having the Rahdari permit. They have returned from the bordering town of Taftan.
“Officials at the Taftan border make us wait for many hours. They do not allow women and children to enter on Rahdari. It seems Rahdari is gradually becoming invalid for travel to Iran,” said a Taftan resident Murad Ali.
He said he has been visiting Sistan-Baluchestan for the past many decades and his travel documents had never been questioned.
“Dozens of families had been asked to go back and we were among them,” he added.
Local officials admitted that it has become harder for locals to visit their relatives in Sistan-Baluchestan.
Several tribes and many families are divided by the Iran-Pakistan border and there is normally an exchange of goods of daily use between the people on both sides of the border.
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Nizam Wrote the following comment . I support his comment.
He Wrote Pakistanis should say NO to Saudi Arabia. Sadly the prime minister of Pakistan is a converted Saudi- Wahhabi and he will do any thing for them. The Saudis were their host when he was convicted of treason in Pakistani courts and was deported. Which was a kangaroo court any way run by a dictator Musharraf. The Sharif family feels obligated and will help the Kingdom they can. Also one of their daughters is married to Saudi Prince which gives daddy a good reason to be nice. The Saudis are evil empire and God knows what is there goal. They run a police state them self and want every country be anti-democratic. Pakistani should be careful. The weapons will be used against them by the animals they have in own backyards, i.e, Waziristan. Look out PIA and other civilian airliners.
From an outsider looking in, pakistan has bad relationship with all of its neighbors. Afghanistan and india both accuse pakistan of supporting terrorism. The only neighbor that was friendly towards pakistan was iran. But now even iran is accusing pakistan of terrorism. Overall, any pakistani with a brain can see where the problem lies. Its the irresponsible pakistani government actions. They are corrupt and dont care one bit for the well being of pakistani citizens. Pakisran has the potential of being the next china, it has the resources and somewhat an educated population in the main cities. But the regime is just horrible and there is no hope for pakistan anymore.
@Ridiculous.... I can smell a racist...
So the content of this article is questionable because the Author is a Baloch, Great. Simply amazing....
Iran provides Pakistan with Electricity half the price of the world and the natural gas prices 2/3rd of the market price, yet Pakistan betrayed Iran. Pakistan didn't choose to tread carefully with Iran and now the tables will turn, soon. And not to mention their politicians don't even care about their fellow Pakistanis.
@Ridiculous: What is the other side of the story?
@ali Iran is allowing all Muslims despite of their sect,this is too much, what will you say someone having name Ali,Hussain,Hassan,Fatima, they are not allowed to travel most of Arab states i-e Behrain,Qatar..
So there is a wall at the border between Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan will be known as walled country of the world. Wall between Pakistan and India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. People may forget about great wall of China and may start visiting Great wall of Pakistan.
Iran has to take some action to protect her border with Pakistan. Pakistan is so much tilted towards Saudi Arabia these days that we may see the relationship between Iran and Pakistan deteriorating very fast.
Seems like Iran is building a beef with Pakistan. Small moves , which can be brushed aside as bumps, but I think such moves tell a whole lot of what's coming.some time back I read about iran threating to cross border. its a bad idea to choose side in Iran vs KSA fight. Hope u don't make that "meddling in someones affair" mistake again. Have known many Pakistani citizen romanticising the Afghan war.
ET publish.
One sided story. What else can you expect from Baloch journalists.
A triumph of Pakistan's foreign policy guided by "Strategic Depth" visionaries!
In Iran they have restrictions on Sunnis such as they cannot have certain Names, Iran does not issue visa readily to sunnis with name such as maawiya. Iranian policy against sunni muslims is similar to israeli policies against palestiniens in jerusalam