Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Pakistani and Afghan border officials held a meeting at Torkham border Zero point and discussed the passport and visa issues but could not reach a durable solution, officials sources said on Monday.
Pakistani side led by Lt, Col Rana Adnan Shafiq of Frontier Crops(FC ) and accompanied by Major Murad, Major Bahlool and Torkham tehsildar Daud Afridi.
The Afghan delegation, led by Commissioner Afghan Torkham Qari Abdul Jabbar Hekmat, included Afghan customs representative Torkham Qari Rafiullah, Assistant Commissioner Afghan Torkham Qari Muhammad, and Director General Afghan Intelligence Maluvi Takal.
The meeting discussed various border issues and urged for long-lasting solutions to run transportation and pedestrian movements without hindrance across the border. The Afghan side raised passport and visa issues with Pakistani authorities and urged them to relax the condition in the best interest of businessmen and transporters in both countries.
Afghan Torkham commissioner Abdul Jabbar Hekmat said that suspending trade activities and stoppage of facilitation at the Pak-Afghan Torkham border without any prior intimation was against the social and international norms, regulations, natural justice that create tension and insecurity for traders, patients and all citizens. He said they want such practices not to be repeated in future which not only hurt both neighboring countries’ relations but also create a rift among citizens.
The Afghan commissioner said that 90 per cent of Afghan drivers and patients did not possess passports. He said due to the rush at passport offices in Afghanistan obtaining procedures face delay. He said they gave priority to patients to obtain passport and visa who suffer from cancer and chronic diseases. He said Afghan authorities lack resources and Pakistani authorities should allow patients on a humanitarian basis.
Afghan officials said the reopening of border and visa issues got complicated with time and it was not in their capacity to resolve the issue and reopen the border at their level.
The Afghan officials said they want cordial relations with Pakistan. He said the closing of the border without any prior notice would compel Afghanistan to erect a wall at the Torkham border gate to close it forever completely.
Afghan authorities said that the Pakistani embassy and conciliates rejected visit visas without any reason.
Col, Adnan Shafiq told the Afghan counterparts that the implementation of passport and visa conditions had been pending since November 2, 2023. He said Afghan authorities were not interested and not cooperating with Pakistani authorities in the matter.
He said cancer patients were facilitated to reach hospitals in Pakistan without any delay.
Col, Adnan said they would convey the grievances to the concerned departments but the Afghan side was not interested in providing data on Afghan drivers and their helpers to Pakistani embassies in Afghanistan.
