Bureau Report
PESHAWAR/CHAMAN: Thousands of stranded people crossed into Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday as the crossing points at Torkham and Chaman were reopened on the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Hundreds of trucks also crossed into Afghanistan from Pakistan after the border reopened for the first time in more than a month, ending the protracted closure of one of South Asia’s busiest trade routes.
The long-stranded convoy of trucks that stretched for miles on either side began to move while thousands of Afghans and Pakistanis also crossed the border amidst strict security. Pakistan closed the border in mid-February, following a string of terrorist attacks that Islamabad has blamed on militants hiding in Afghanistan. Security forces are high alert to deal with any unpleasant incident.
Sources in political administration of Khyber Agency told Radio Pakistan that only those Afghan nationals will be allowed to cross the border who possess valid travelling documents. Similarly a close watch is being maintained on crossings of Pakistanis from Afghan side so that no terrorist could sneak into the country.
Similarly a large number of people crossed the border at Chaman. Drivers of long lines of trailers took a sigh of relief as they had been stranded for the last one month and were losing pocket money for purpose of daily food items.
Some drivers told media that they fear that some of the goods would have perished. They however lauded the government of Pakistan for reopening the border. Containers of the coalition forces who were also stopped at both the crossing points were also moving into Afghanistan.
Sources on Afghan side of the two border crossings said that prices of essential commodities have gone up many fold because of scarcity due to non supply from the Pakistani side.
