Iran makes Rahdari permit invalid for travel to Sistan-Baluchestan province
Iranian border guards have deported dozens of Pakistani families even though they possess valid travelling documents.
An Iranian border guard looks through a pair of binoculars to monitor a border area in southeastern Iran. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
QUETTA:
Iranian border guards have deported dozens of Pakistani families from Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province even though they possess valid travelling documents.
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.
Iranian border guards have deported dozens of Pakistani families from Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province even though they possess valid travelling documents.
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.