PARACHINAR, Jan 12: The closure of border with Afghanistan and blockade of Thall-Parachinar Road have added to the miseries of residents of Kurram Agency as they fear shortage of daily use items in the volatile valley. “Security forces have sealed all supply routes of Kurram Agency with Afghanistan, placing a complete economic blockade on the tribesmen,” locals said. They added that supply of food and other essential items including medicines through Thall-Parachinar Road had already been suspended since a convoy was attacked on Wednesday last.

“Shortage of fuel also persists in the area and per litre diesel is sold at more than Rs120 while the price of per kilogram liquefied petroleum gas reached to Rs180 in the tribal region,” they said.

More than 20 trucks loaded with goods, escorted by Frontier Corps, were looted and set on fire on Thall-Parachinar Road in the Wednesday’s attack. These trucks were heading from Peshawar to Parachinar.

The tribesmen are seen rushing to shops and stores to buy food items as they fear shortage of daily use item if the routes are not reopened. The traders also face difficulties and getting essential commodities because of the closure of Thall-Parachinar Road while border with Afghanistan in the area has been sealed since September last.

The tribesmen have asked the administration to reopen main road for transportation of goods from Peshawar or allow supply from Afghanistan. Meetings between the authorities and tribal elders were underway to resolve the issue, locals said.

However, sources said that negotiations between the elders and administration remained inconclusive because paramilitary forces refused to open the border for trade activities. People have been depending on Afghanistan for supply of goods since 2007 when clashes broke out in the area.

Commandant Kurram Militia Col Touseef Akhtar, when approached, said that he had received instructions from the higher authorities to keep the border closed. “I have strict orders from the high-ups not to allow cross border movement,” he said.

Meanwhile, tribesmen have set a one-week deadline for the administration to pay compensation to those traders, whose goods were looted in the attack and ensure safety on Thall-Parachinar Road.

Local traders alleged that paramilitary forces manning main trade routes with Afghanistan were demanding Rs30,000 per truck from them. “When you fulfil the demand of paramilitary forces then they permit entry of loaded trucks from Afghanistan,” said a trader.

The businessmen alleged that officials of the political administration were also charging Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 per truck carrying good from Peshawar to Kurram Agency.

Scores of residents of the troubled agency are stranded in the provincial capital as they normally travel to their hometowns via Afghanistan. The closure of these routes has forced them to stay in Peshawar.