Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Pakistani authorities closed the Torkham border after keeping it relaxed for four days to facilitate stranded Afghan nationals to return to their native country, officials said on Thursday.
Deputy commissioner of Khyber Mehmood Aslam Wazir told this scribe that the border remained open from April 6 to 9. He said they facilitated Afghan nationals on their journey back to Afghanistan. He said food and shelter were provided to those who stayed for long hours at the Torkham border.
The Deputy commissioner said on the directives of the interior ministry they could open the Torkham border for three days a week. He said they were in contact with high-ups to finalize the preparations for transit goods trucks to proceed to Afghanistan.
According to officials trucks transporting vegetables and fresh fruits to Afghanistan would not be allowed to cross borders into Afghanistan. He said truck crew members would be screened when they enter Pakistan via the Torkham border.
