LANDIKOTAL: Pakistani and Afghanistan border officials held meeting at Torkham border Zero point and discussed the paspport and visa issues but could not reach a durable solution, officials sources said on Monday.
Pakistani side led by Lt, Col Rana Adnan Shafiq of Frontier Crops(FC ) and accompanied by major Murad,major Bahlool and Torkham tehsildar Daud Afridi.
While Afghan side headed by commissioner Afghan Torkham Qari Abdul Jabbar Hekmat and Afghan custom representative of Torkham Qari Rafiullah,assistant commissioner Afghan Torkham Qari Muhammad,Director General Afghan intellegence Maluvi Takal also attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed various border issues and urged for long lasted solutions to run transportation and pedestrians movements without hindrance across the border. Afghan side raised passport and visa issues with Pakistani authorities and urged them to relax the condition in the best interest of businessmen and transporters in both the countries.
Afghan Torkhan commissioner Abdul Jabbar Hekmat said that suspending of trade activities and stoppage of facilitation at Pak-Afghan Torkham border with out any prior intimation was against the social and international norms,regulations,natural justice that create tension and insecurity for traders,patients and for all citizens. He said they want such practices should not be repeated in future which not only hurt both neighboring countries’ relation which also create rift among citizens.
The Afghan commissioner said that 90 percent of Afghan drivers and patients did not possess passport. He said due to rush on passport offices in Afghanistan obtaining procedure face delay. He said they gave priority to patients to obtain passport and visa who suffer from cancer and chronic diseases. He said Afghan authorities lacking resources and Pakistani authorities should allow patients on humanitarian basis.
Afghan officials said the reopening of border and visa issues getting complicated with the passage of time and it was not in their capacity to resolve the issue and reopen the border at their level.
The Afghan officials said they want cordial relations with Pakistan. He said closing of border without any prior notice would compel Afghanistan to erect a wall at Torkham border gate to completely close it forever.
Afghan authorities said that Pakistsni embassy and councilates rejecting visit visas without any reasons.
Col, Adnan Shafiq told the Afghan counterparts that the Implemantation of passport and visa condition was pending since November 2, 2023. He said Afghan authorities were not interested and not cooperating Pakistani authorities in the matter.
He said cancer patients were facilitated to reach to hospitals in Pakistani without any delay.
Col,Adnan said they would convey the grievances the to concerned departments but Afghan side were not interested to provide data of Afghan drivers and their helpers to Pakistani embassies in Afghanistan.
