PARACHINAR: Tribal elders on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border have demanded reopening of the border point in Kurram Agency with immediate effect, which has been closed since Feb 2017 in the aftermath of the growing incidents of terrorism in Pakistan.

The demand was raised at a jirga held in Kharlachi area along the border which was attended by elders of Sobari, Mangal and Jaji tribes of Paktia province in Afghanistan and Turi Bangash tribe of Kurram Agency.

The jirga was addressed by tribal elders, including Haji Aawan Ali, Haji Nowroze Ali and Malak Nasir Hussain of Turi tribe from Kurram, and Afghan elders Malak Jehangir, Abdul Wali, Humayun and others.

They said that Pak-Afghan border crossing point remained closed since Feb 16 for all kind of traffic affecting bilateral trade between the two countries.

They said traders, drivers and general public on both sides of the border were the worst suffers.

The elders said that loaded trucks and other vehicles were waiting for reopening of the border point.

They said that most of the food items in trucks had turned rotten inflicting huge losses on the traders.

They demanded the government to reopen the Kurram border as Torkham and Chaman borders had already been reopened.

They said that there was no justification to keeping the Kurram border point closed any further.

The elders decided to hold a meeting with the political administration and security officials, and also call on the governor to convey their concerns.

On the other hand, the political administration officials said that Pak-Afghan border was closed due to security reasons, and will be reopened after directives from the authorities concerned.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2017