KHYBER: Scores of local labourers and porters have established a protest camp in Landi Kotal against what they call the excesses of both the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban border security forces.

They have been complaining about the rough treatment by the border forces of both countries despite possessing legal documents for cross-border movement.

Farmeedullah Shinwari, a vocal leader of the affected labourers, told Dawn that though they respected all the border protocols and nearly half of the total around 700 of his co-workers possessed passports and valid visas, they were not allowed to operate their small-time businesses on both sides of the border.

He said that Afghan Taliban authorities not only seized legal travel documents of around 15 local labourers, they were also subjected to physical torture and confiscation of the little quantity of edibles they carried to Afghanistan to earn for themselves a meagre livelihood.

Protesters threaten to block road, lock Nadra office

Mr Shinwari said that so far none of his colleagues was found involved in any of illegal trade of narcotics, currency or weapons but still they were not allowed to continue with their legal trade, though at a very limited scale.

He said that he along with his colleagues had several meetings with the security officials, customs and immigration officials, local elders and politicians alongside holding a series of discussions with Afghan Taliban to resolve their issue but to no avail.

“We have exhausted all the means to find an amicable solution to our problem. After failing to get any solace from any side or forum, we opted for establishment of this protest camp,” said Mr Shinwari. He threatened that they would block the main road leading to the border alongside sealing the Nadra office to block the entry of Afghans into Pakistan if their issues were not resolved.

Meanwhile, Torkham border remained open on Monday after Sunday’s morning clash between FC forces and FIA staff.

SMUGGLING: Customs and Frontier Corps foiled a bid to smuggle a huge quantity of narcotics from Afghanistan into Pakistan in Tirah.

Officials said that they intercepted three drug smugglers at Ziyarrai Sar with the help of FC personnel posted in the region. They said that two of the unidentified smugglers managed to escape while the third one was apprehended and 115 kilograms of charas were also seized.

The arrested man was identified as Junaid, a resident of Bazar-Zakhakhel. The value of the seized drug is around Rs115 million.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024