LANDI KOTAL: Afghan customs authorities allowed trucks loaded with sacrificial animals to cross the Torkham border into Pakistan after a successful culmination of daylong negotiations late on Sunday evening.

A local livestock dealer, Saddam Shinwari confirmed the lifting of ban and told Dawn that at least three vehicles loaded with over 300 Afghan sheep came to Pakistan late Sunday evening.

He said that unconditionalpermission was granted upon the request of the local livestock dealers as they had hundreds of sacrificial animals stuck on other side of the border with most of them affected by hot and suffocating weather.

Local Khasadar officials also confirmed lifting of the ban by the Afghan authorities and said that more vehicles loaded with Afghan sheep were allowed to enter Pakistan on Monday morning.

Afghan authorities had stopped export of sacrificial animals to Pakistan after Pakistani authorities banned export of cattle to Afghanistan some two weeks ago.

With the lifting of ban from Afghan side, prices of sacrificial animals in local market were also reduced to an extent.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018