PARACHINAR: Many trucks carrying goods and food items have been stranded on both sides of the Kharlachi border crossing with Afghanistan for last over a week. The closure of border at this point has aggravated the situation for traders of fresh fruits and other perishable items.

Sources said that the decision of the political administration and law enforcement agencies to close the border with Afghanistan at Kharlachi and Borki in Kurram Agency had come soon after the incident of IED blasts in the adjacent area where four security officials were martyred.

They said that the travellers and traders had been stranded for nearly two weeks now on both sides of the dusty crossing points at Kharlachi and Borki areas of Kurram Agency.

“Scores of trucks loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry and other such items have been stuck and waiting for opening of the border to reach their destinations,” said Masaeb Hussain and Rauf Hussain of Kurram Trade Union. They urged the government to open the border for trade activities.

The truck drivers said that they had run out of cash besides suffering heavy losses. The local people who work as labourers at the border to earn livelihood are also perturbed at the situation. When contacted, officials of the political administration in Parachinar said that the border at Kharlachi had been closed on the directives of high-ups following recent attacks, and it would be opened for trade activities on their orders.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2017