Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Traders and Local government representatives on Friday arranged a peace walk rally in Landikotal bazaar and urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to defuse the tension and open the Torkham border for trade activities.
The rally started from Bacha Khan Chowk and reached to front of the Landikotal Press Club. They were holding placards inscribed with slogans for peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Tehsil Mayor Wali Muhammad Shinwari, Azizullah Afridi, chairman Abdur Rauf Shinwari, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement active leader and trader Aftab Shinwari, social activist Kalimullah Shinwari and others said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were two brotherly countries. They said they want durable peace and cordial relations with Afghan citizens.
Aftab Shinwari said both governments must avoid clashes and bloodshed and resolve issues through talks.
Deputy mayor Wali Muhammad Shinwari said they want free trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that due to the bunker construction issue Torkham border crossing remained closed for three days. He added that due to the tension on the Pak-Afghan border, hundreds of thousands of citizens’ lives were affected severely in the past three days. He said a large number of passengers, including women and children, were stranded on both sides of the border.
Chairman Abdur Rauf Shinwari said Bacha Mena residents, the border village in Pakistan, also left their homes and shifted to safer areas in Landikotal.
The peace walk participants demanded that Islamabad and Kabul negotiate and help resolve the border reopening issue.
