KHYBER: Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yousaf and Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan paid a visit to Torkham on Wednesday where they were given detailed briefings about border management and bilateral trade along with pedestrian movement.

Officials from Federal Board of Revenue, Customs, Frontier Corps and National Logistic Cell accompanied them during the visit.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Secretary Ikramullah Khan gave a detailed briefing to them on border situation.

Moeed Yousaf and Sadiq Khan were later given a round of the Custom House and immigration offices where they were informed about the process of immigration and clearance of trade goods to and from Afghanistan.

They also inspected on-the-spot loaded vehicles clearance at the NLC terminal. They also witnessed cross-border pedestrian movement.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Faiz Hameed met Afghan Taliban border officials and discussed with them matters related to border management and security during his first visit to Torkham on Tuesday.

Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj Gen Adil Yamin accompanied the Peshawar corps commander during his visit where he was given a detailed briefing about the border security and other related arrangements by Commandant Khyber Rifles Col Rizwan Nazir.

During his meeting with Afghan Taliban officials, who also included Afghanistan Assistant Home Minister Qari Noor Jalal, matters related to cross-border movement and issues pertaining to bilateral trade were discussed.

Officials of both the neighbouring countries agreed during the meeting to provide maximum facilities during cross-border pedestrian movement to people. They also decided to exempt Afghan nationals below the age of eight from any travel documents.

The meeting also decided to allow 100 ailing Afghan nationals to come to Pakistan for treatment without visa. The meeting recommended to Prime Minister Imran Khan to increase the number of immigration staff on the Pakistan side of the border to expedite the immigration process of coming Afghans.

Security on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway was further tightened while additional police and security personnel were deployed at the border during the Peshawar corps commander’s visit.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2021