KHYBER: A lack of the temporary admission document is troubling both Pakistani and Afghan transporters as long queues of loaded vehicles have been witnessed on the road to Torkham border crossing here, with customs authorities refusing to clear goods without TAD.

Custom officials told Dawn that the newly-enforced TAD condition had considerably disrupted Pak-Afghan trade via Torkhamas they had “clear and strict” instructions from Islamabad not to allow vehicles to enter or leave the country without the production of TAD.

They said unlike the past when border reopening after a closure prompted transporters to throng the border for early goods clearance, Thursday’s reopening after three days of closure didn’t generate any significant activity as transporters knew they couldn’t cross the border without that new travel document.

The officials said only around 50 loaded trucks entered Afghanistan, while over 500 stayed back due to the TAD issue.

Official says stakeholders to meet in Peshawar next week

The TAD policy, which took effect on August 1, has frustrated transporters from both countries by blocking their cross-border movement. They insisted that they’re caught unawares by the policy’s “sudden” enforcement.

In March this year, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to make the production of TAD mandatory for the transporters wanting to cross the border. Earlier, they would travel between the two countries without any travel documents.

Transporters have complained about delays in issuance of both passports and visas, and accused the relevant officials of demanding bribes for processing of their applications.

On August 12, local transporters and custom clearing agents demonstrated at Torkham against the TAD policy. However, they called off the protest after Pakistani and Afghan border forced traded fire over a disputed border checkpoint.

Some protest leaders met with administration and customs officials in Landi Kotal on Friday to discuss the delay in goods clearance.

Qari Nazeemgul, a local goods importer and custom clearing agent, told Dawn that the assistant commissioner of Landi Kotal and assistant collector (customs) at Torkhamborder promised the early resolution of grievances.

He alleged that an “organised” network, comprising both government officials and private agents, was exploiting the situation to benefit itself.

Mr Nazeemgul added that the transporters, who couldn’t afford bribes, were subjected to a long delay in the TAD issuance.

He warned that if the issue wasn’t resolved, transporters would observe a strike on August 29, suspending all good movement to Afghanistan.

When contacted, assistant commissioner of Landi Kotal Adnan Mumtaz Khattak insisted that the district administration and custom officials at Torkhamwere not authorised to provide any relief to transporters on the issue of TAD.

He, however, said the administration would facilitate mediation among transporters, custom clearing agents and government officials to resolve the issue for the early movement of stranded vehicles and speedy TAD delivery to transporters.

“We look forward to a positive outcome when all stakeholders will meet in Peshawar commissioner’s office next week,” he said.

The official said that the government, too, wanted to remove all hurdles to the speedy custom clearance of goods to enhance the country’s trade with Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2024