Pakistani tribe bans Afghan trucks’ entry

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): The Wazir tribe in the South Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan has banned Afghan trucks from entering their territory, leaving stranded about 1,000 vehicles loaded with commercial goods on this side of the border in Paktika province.

Afghan drivers have called for the embargo, entering a second week, to be lifted in order to allow hundreds of vehicles parked in Sharan, the provincial capital, to enter Pakistan.

One of them, Lal Mohammad, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Wazir tribe had banned Afghan commercial goods carrying vehicles to enter South Waziristan through Angoor Ada, a border town between Paktika and South Waziristan.

He said the Wazir tribe had imposed the ban because it insisted the number of vehicles belonging to the tribe were less than those entering their area from Afghanistan. The tribe wanted equal number of vehicles to cross the border from each side.

He said the number of Afghan trucks daily crossing the border exceeded 1000, but about 200 vehicles belonging to the people of South Waziristan daily crossed the border into Afghanistan.

Lal Mohammad said: “The Wazirs say they would not allow Afghan trucks exceeding the number of vehicles they have.”

Another Afghan driver, Gul Ahmad Zadran, said he suffered huge financial losses since he had parked his vehicle in Sharan following the ban.

He warned if they were not treated under transport rules across the border, they would not allow Pakistani trucks to enter Afghanistan.  “We want the Afghan government to assist us in resolving the issue,” he said.

Paktika Transport Department official, Kashmir Khan, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the ban on Afghan trucks was a serious issue, but beyond their ability to resolve it.

However, he said the provincial administration had launched efforts to find a solution to the problem.

Afghan drivers say the route is shortest compared with other routes to export goods to Pakistan and other foreign countries.

Mukhlis Afghan, the provincial government spokesman, said talks had been held with the authorities concerned to resolve the issue.

“The Angoor Ada route is not a formal transit route. Historically, commercial goods carrying vehicles use the route under tribal agreements, but now some problems have surfaced in the accords,” he said.

He said the ban was a tribal issue and acting Governor Mohibullah Samim had started negotiations with tribal elders to find a solution to the problem.

ma

Visits: 1