LANDI KOTAL: A large number of loaded and empty vehicles have been stuck at the Afghanistan side of Torkham border owing to slow process of security checking and clearance.
The process of security clearance of vehicles entering Pakistan from Afghanistan slowed down since the task was taken from political administration following reopening of the border on March 21 after remaining closed for nearly five weeks.
An average of 15 vehicles either carrying import items from Afghanistan or returning empty to Pakistan were checked and examined every hour by the border guards whereas the number was almost double when the task was done jointly by security personnel and local political administration officials.
Sources said that during 14 hours of border opening on daily basis, only 200 vehicles were allowed entry into Pakistan in comparison to nearly 500 vehicles prior to closure of border in February last as more than 8,000 vehicles are still stuck at the border.
