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  • News Desk
  • Dec 30th, 2012
  • Comments Off on Torkham border post reopened on Afghan reassurances
Pakistan on Saturday reopened the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham after assurances given by Afghan Ambassador that action would be taken against security officials involved in torturing Pakistani truckers. The decision was taken following a meeting of Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Mohammad Umar Daudzai with Special Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alamgir Babar.

According to Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan, the two sides discussed the recent incidents where Pakistanis returning from Afghanistan were beaten near Kabul. "Ambassador Daudzai promised that the matter would be investigated and action would be taken against those responsible", Moazzam said, adding that the envoy also assured that such incidents would not occur in future.

The Afghan Ambassador also raised the incident involving Afghan nationals in Landi Kotal. Based on the assurances given by the Afghan Ambassador, the spokesman added that Pakistan side agreed to reopen the Pakistan-Afghanistan border which was closed since yesterday (Friday). He said that Ministry of Interior was issuing instructions in this regard.

Pakistan on Friday shut down the Torkham border post after truck drivers complained of alleged torture of two of their Pakistani colleagues at the hands of Afghan officials. It was the second such incident in a week, as earlier on December 22 this year. Afghan security officials are reported to have beaten up 29 Pakistani labourers at Pul-e-Charkhi area of Afghanistan followed by closure of the border in protest.

The truck drivers complained to Pakistani border officials that they were entering Afghanistan for work when they were intercepted by Afghan security personnel at a check post and were allegedly subjected to brutal torture. Tribal sources said that long queues of trucks and containers were seen at both sides of the border following closure of Torkham gate by Pakistan, which is also a major route for the supplies of goods to US-led Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012


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