Ashrafuddin Pirzada
TORKHAM: Hundreds of loaded trucks were stranded on both sides of the border after the Torkham border was closed for all kinds of traffic, sources said.
They said that Pakistani authorities had imposed valid passport and visa conditions for truck drivers and their helpers to transport goods. They said Pakistani and Afghan border officials did not agree to reach a conclusion which led both sides to stop loaded trucks on the Torkham border sides.
When contacted Qari Nazim Gul Shinwari, a customs agent, said that many trucks mostly loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables were stopped last night to transport goods to Afghanistan. He said Pakistani border authorities asked truckers to produce valid passports and visas otherwise they would not be allowed to enter Afghanistan.
“We met with Pakistani border officials but could not convince them to relax border conditions for truckers”, said Qari Nazim Gul. He added that in reaction, Afghan officials also suspended the transportation of goods at their side of the border. He said hundreds of trucks carrying fresh fruits parked on both sides of the Torkham border. He said millions of rupees, fresh fruits and vegetables, could go wasted if the border was not reopened as soon as possible.
Sources in Torkham also confirmed that customs officials have asked owners of the trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables to return to Pakistan and elsewhere to unload the consignment as it could be rotten within hours if not reached to destinations.
Customs officials said they had withdrawn valid visa conditions but only to produce valid passports. They said the Afghan government wanted to allow drivers without valid passports and visas.
A top-ranking customs official said last year they had imposed visa conditions which were withdrawn. He said Afghan drivers had not carried proper travelling documents, which was a security risk.
