[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Once again, trade at the Pak-Afghan border faced a standstill as officials engaged in a dispute over visa regulations. Last year, Pakistan implemented stricter border regulations, making it mandatory for Afghan truck drivers to carry passports for entry into the Pakistani side. However, as not all Afghan drivers possess this travel document, trade came to a halt on Friday night at the Torkham border, with officials from both sides exchanging accusations.
Afghan border official Abdul Jabbar Hekmat confirmed that Torkham was closed to commercial truck drivers without visas from Pakistani authorities. Conversely, Pakistani officials denied imposing a visa requirement but confirmed the border closure, stating that Afghan truck drivers could only cross with a valid passport. The Pakistani side asserted that the need for a passport had been agreed upon in meetings between Afghan and Pakistani authorities, placing blame on Afghan border officials for shutting down border trade.
Read more : Thousands of trucks stuck at Torkham border.
It is noteworthy that while the border remains open for pedestrians, truckers are not permitted to cross without the required documents. Visa regulations between the two countries have recently tightened as part of Pakistan’s crackdown against illegal refugees. The Pakistani government’s stringent measures include a deadline, announcing that by November 1st, 2023, illegal refugees must leave voluntarily or face deportation.
Trade at the Torkham border had faced interruptions in previous months over visa regulations, but negotiations at senior levels had led to its resumption. The Pakistani government justifies its crackdown on illegal refugees by citing security and economic challenges. However, Afghan refugees are among the victims of these measures. Afghanistan denies involvement in subversive activities in Pakistan and urges rights groups to intervene and prevent deportations. The ongoing disputes and regulatory changes at the border highlight the complex and challenging nature of the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
