QUETTA: Traffic between Quetta and Kandahar resumed on Wednesday evening on the Quetta-Chaman National Highway after successful talks between local tribal leaders and government officials.

Tribesmen had blocked the road after violent clashes erupted with security forces during an anti-poppy cultivation drive in Gulistan and other areas of Qila Abdullah district, which borders Afghanistan.

A leader of the tribesmen claimed the confrontation led to the death of two tribesmen and injuries to six security personnel, causing a halt in the Afghan transit trade along with other import and export activities.

Talks were facilitated between the Ghabizai tribe, led by Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan Ghabizai, and government officials, including Frontier Corps commandant Brig Umar and Chman DC Athar Abbas.

According to the agreement reached in the talks, an FIR will be registered against the accused persons who were involved in the killing of two tribesmen, compensation will be paid to the families of the deceased, and FC and administration officials will visit the bereaved families to offer condolences. All cases registered against the tribesmen during the incident will also be reviewed.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2024