PESHAWAR - With a new border management system ready for implementation, Kabul has urged Islamabad to extend a border restriction deadline for a month to enable the Afghans to travel to and from Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan and Eidul Fitr.
The new system at Torkham will become functional from June 1 (today), a security official said confided to Pajhwok Afghan News. Afghan nationals without valid passports would no longer be allowed to enter Pakistan, he said.
Up to 15,000 individuals, including patients, cross the Torkham border daily without proper travel documents. To check the movement of unwanted elements, the source revealed, apparatus for the system had been installed at the Shaheed Mor check-post.
Pakistan has 535 posts along the Durand Line, compared with 145 set up by Afghanistan. “These posts can be abandoned once a proper security mechanism was made functional,” the official said, adding the checkpoints on the Pakistani side would be transferred to the Frontier Corps in three years.
On Monday, an Afghan delegation, led by Col. Nisar Khan, made the request during a five-hour meeting with Pakistani officials in Landikotal, including Taufeeq of the Pakistan Army and Landikotal Assistant Political Agent Rahimullah Mehsud.
Passport Officer Ghuncha Gul also took part in the meetingthat discussed border security, intelligence-sharing and other issues of bilateral importance. The Afghan team formally requested the Pakistani side to soften border restrictions.
In response, Pakistani officials said the two countries should boost bilateral cooperation and take concrete measures to minimise security risks on both sides of the Durand Line. (Pajhwok)