KARACHI: Pak-Afghan Transit Trade has come to a grinding halt at Torkhum border due to acute security issues and imposition of curfew.
According to the source, all import and export consignments load on trucks were returned due to curfew and acute tension in Landi Kotal and Torkhum border.
Source informed that tension began when Pakistan started construction of a gate on its side of the border to check infiltration of smugglers and terrorists as well as to stop Afghan nationals from entering Pakistan illegally. During the mid of the last month the border security issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan had left the closure of the Torkhum border for more than a week that caused more then $10 million loss to the traders.
Now once again after the security issues the curfew has been imposed at the Landi Kotal and the areas of Torkhum border due to which trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan from Torkhum border is on halt whereas several trucks loaded with different goods have returned Afghan ambassador in Pakistan was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Pakistan’s strong protest over the tension caused by the Afganitan side at the Torkhum border due to which not only transit trade is suffering on the other hand curfew has been imposed that is causing problems in the legal activities at the border.
The statement by the authorities revealed that the Afghan side was urged to thoroughly investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistan. It was further emphasized that all steps should be taken for avoiding recurrence of such incidents in the future.
