LANDI KOTAL: Senator Taj Mohammad has demanded that the tribesmen living on both sides of the Torkham border be exempted from visa and passport restrictions and instead issued border passes for rapid cross-border movement.

He welcomed relaxation in cross-border travel for the tribesmen and said the step would help promote bilateral trade and cultural relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Talking to journalists at Landi Kotal Press Club on Monday, he, however, welcomed the border management policy of the government and urged the Afghan government to reciprocate as it would help keep the movement of suspected people under strict observation.

The senator from Jamrud said tribesmen living on both sides of the border had been having decades-old tribal, cultural and business relations benefitting hundreds of families. He said it was not in the interest of the two neighbouring countries to restrict or obstruct the movement of tribesmen as their main source of earning and living was attached to frequent and unhindered movement.

Taj Mohammad said Pakistani tribesmen from different tribal agencies were given legal protection for investing in Afghanistan, establishing industries and purchasing personal properties as they had a separate ministry for tribal affairs and border regions till early 90s.

Meanwhile, oil supplies for the Allied forces in Afghanistan resumed on Monday after several months of suspension as at least 15 oil tankers carrying fuel supply left for the country via Torkham.

Official sources said all the oil tankers were provided strict security in order to ward off any terrorist attack on their way from Peshawar to Torkham.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016