QUETTA: A flagship meeting between the border authorities of Pakistan and Afghanistan, held on Tuesday discussed repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals and other issues relating to the border management and other issues.

The meeting was held at the Friendship Gate in Chaman. Mullah Abdullah Bashir, deputy commissioner of Spin Buldak and border commander Mullah Mehmood Ahmed represented the Afghan government side while Chaman deputy commissioner Raja Athar Abbas and Chaman Scouts of Frontier Corps Brigadier Omer Jabbeer represented Pakistan side at the meeting.

Officials said the meeting discussed issues of border management and providing facilities to illegal Afghan refugees who will be repatriated to Afghanistan as Pakistan has decided to send back all Afghan refugees illegally living in the country for a long time without having required legal documents.

The two countries discussed in detail issues of border crossing, specially the difficulties being faced by patients who come to Chaman from Afghanistan for treatment.

“The two countries agreed to continue consultations for maintaining a conducive atmosphere and finding out an effective solution to resolve problems being faced by local communities on both sides of the border,” Jan Achakzai, the minister for information said.

The deputy commissioner of Chaman assured Afghan officials of Pakistan’s complete help and cooperation to resolve problems being faced by local communities.

The Afghan officials expressed satisfaction at the meeting and assured full cooperation to the Pakistan government to resolve issues being faced by the people of the two countries.

Meanwhile, the protest sit-in continued in Chaman on the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday against Pakistan government’s decision to introduce border-crossing through valid passports from Nov 1.

The sit-in call was given by all parries traders alliance and civil society who have announced they would not accept the new system of border crossing though passports and visas.

Several thousand workers of different political parties, traders and civil society members took part in the protest. The protesters have blocked the main road linking Chaman with Kandahar.

The protestors have announced that they would not call off their protest until the government withdraws its decision about the border crossing through passports and valid visas.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2023