February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

QUETTA, Feb 3: The road traffic between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained suspended for the second day on Sunday as more snowfall was reported on the Khojak Pass and other areas of northern Balochistan.

The northern and central Balochistan, including the provincial capital, is in grip of a severe cold wave with the mercury dropping to minus 7 in some areas.

“Hundreds of vehicles, including tankers carrying fuel for US-led forces in Afghanistan, are stranded on the Quetta-Chaman National Highway as snowfall continues,” a senior official of Killa Abdullah district told Dawn.

The local administration opened the road between Quetta and Chaman for small vehicles for some time but heavy snowfall later closed the road again for traffic.

The official said: “The Khojak Pass has become dangerous after the heavy snowfall so we stopped traffic between Quetta and Chaman to avoid any accident.”

However, the train service between Chaman and Quetta remained operational.

Fuel supply for Nato forces remained suspended for the third day as tankers carrying fuel to Afghanistan were stuck up at the Khojak Pass.

Roads leading to Toba Achakzai, Toba Kakari, Kan Mehtarzai, Barshore and some other towns have also been blocked. Traffic between Quetta and Nushki has been suspended.