QUETTA: At least one person has been reportedly killed as protests against new visa rules at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman turned violent, according to officials and protest leaders.

Locals, traders, and political parties have been protesting in Chaman since October 2023 against the new visa regime, which allowed entry from Afghanistan only with a valid passport and visa.

Officials said protesters have been allowed to stage their demonstrations for the last many months, but this week, they tried to attack and enter an FC post near the border.

They also besieged the building and pelted stones at security personnel, injuring some of them.

One dead during campaign against poppy cultivation

Meanwhile, the traders’ alliance, which has been holding the protests, claimed that security forces opened fire at the protesters and killed two people, with over 20 injured.

Officials have confirmed only one death.

The situation in the border regions has been tense for the past four days due to the clashes.

Demonstrators have also forced the shutdown of a passport office, Customs office, Nadra Office, Dep­uty Commissioner Complex and FC fort gates. They also locked the gates of the Chaman Press Club.

The demonstrations have also blocked the Quetta-Chaman road at Khojak Pass, some 45km away from the Afghan border.

The road serves as the main passage for the trucks carrying goods of the Afghan transit trade, which has also been suspended as protesters placed barricades and boulders on the highway.

Hundreds of trucks carrying transit trade goods and other items have been stranded on both sides as negotiations between protesters and the local administration failed to yield any positive result.

Drive against poppy cultivation

Separately, one person was killed and six security personnel injured in a clash during the campaign against poppy cultivation in the Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah district.

Officials said that the poppy was being cultivated in a walled compound which was raided by the personnel of Anti-Narcotics Force, FC and Levies.

As they tried to destroy the crop, armed men opened fire on them, officials said.

The dead and injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta.

Officials have said the campaign against poppy cultivation will continue in the area.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024