As many as 6000 loaded trucks continue to remain stranded as travel restrictions continue to be in place by the Pakistani authorities at Torkham border, media sources have reported. Moreover, at least 80 trucks carrying poultry have halted their journey since March 21 despite obtaining clearance from Customs authorities.
The drivers of those vehicles, mostly Pakistani citizens do not possess Pakistani passports so they are denied an entry into Afghanistan.
The drivers have stated that they are forced to keep air-conditioning on to save the meat from going stale. This, they claimed has added to the financial burden on them as they have no information about when they would be allowed entry into Afghanistan.
Sources are reported to have said that Frontier Corps officials have asked the chicken loaded vehicles to go back as they feared a backlash from transporters and exporters if any damage to the consignment takes place due to delay. The transporters, however, are adamant saying that they have been issued gate passes by the Customs authorities and their return would add to their financial losses.
Shakir Afridi, a representative of transporters is reported to have said that no prior information had been made available regarding the imposition of new restrictions on transporters at Torkham border. Criticising the new policy of showing Pakistani passport at the time of entry to Afghanistan, he added no such rules were applicable anywhere in the world on transporters having to travel back and forth between neighbouring countries. He added that the Afghan authorities have no objections against the entry of transporters without passport and visa when the Rahdari pass has been issued by the embassy.
Despite repeated attempts to allow relaxation of the new policy, there has been no response from the concerned authorities. Moreover, an official is reported to have said that the new policy was only applicable on transporters at the Torkham crossing. There are no such restrictions on transporters passing through the Chaman border, the official added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of transporters, political workers and members of civil society organisations have protested on Sunday demanding relaxation in travel restrictions. Afridi also claimed that he was being threatened by unidentified people for supporting the affected transporters.
Additionally, there have been reports of two transporters, Farhad Sultankhel and Akhtar Mohammad Nekikhel being arrested after they received complaints from Afghan drivers about snatching of gate passes by them.
On the contrary, local transporters claim that the government has been resorting to using political pressure to end the protest.
