QUETTA: The Afghan transit trade, Nato supplies and trade between Pakistan and Afghan­istan were restored on Sunday after four days of suspension.

On Wednesday, tribesmen had blocked Quetta-Chaman Highway at Khojak Pass in protest against seizure of their non-duty paid 17 vehicles by personnel of the Frontier Corps in the Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah district.

The tribesmen belonging to different tribes had put boulders and barricades at Khojak Pass which is the only route to reach Chaman.

Qila Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Tariq Javed Mengal held negotiations with the protesting tribesmen. “After many rounds of talks with the reconciliation committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Tariq Mengal, the tribesman agreed to open Khojak Pass for traffic,” official sources said.

The FC personnel had seized the vehicles and detained their drivers during an operation against smuggling and non-customs paid vehicles.

“The issue has been resolved and owners of vehicles have been asked to pay duty and other taxes for release of vehicles and goods,” Mr Mengal told Dawn.

The road was opened and traffic was seen late in the night on Quetta-Chaman Highway, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2021