Cross-border movement at Torkham restricted

LANDI KOTAL - After the expiration of deadline, Torkham border was restricted for illegal border crossers here on Monday.
According to details, Pakistani officials closed the western (Torkham) border and only those who had legal documents were allowed to cross.
However, truckers carrying NATO supplies and Afghan government consignments were permitted to cross.
Extra Frontier constabulary (FC) personnel were deployed at the border for the purpose.
On the other hand, in reaction to the act of the Pakistani officials, the Afghan govt also closed the border and no Pakistani, not even the truckers, were permitted to cross the Afghan border without Afghan ID cards (Tazkira). The situation prevailed for one hour and a huge crowd had gathered at both sides of the border.
When the situation started getting worse, border officials on both sides agreed to address the matter and had a brief talk on the main crossing point.
From the Afghan side, Abdul Basir, a border in-charge, took part while Pakistani officials besides the Political Administrator Maj. Adil Raja joined the talks.
The Afghan Government informed the Pakistani officials of the problems and hardships their people were facing due to border closing. They demanded relaxation in border sealing and said that the Pakistan Government should implement the policy slowly and gradually.
The Pakistani officials were of the view that the decision had been taken in the better interest of the country, and security had already been beefed up on the border from Shelman to Sasubi areas. The Pakistani officials said that legal document holders, Pakistani nationals with ID cards, and Afghanis with Afghan cards issued by NADRA were allowed to cross into Pakistan.
According to passport official Abdul Wahid Afridi, till the filing of this report, 700 Afghans entered Pakistan on Passport while 15000 to 16000 people crossed over without documents.
The general masses on both sides, especially the tribal traders, suffered a lot due to the closure of the border. A local trader Khanzad Gul said that business on the border was the only source of earning bread for their families. They insisted for relief and convenience for the local traders.