The Pakistani authorities have asked Afghan nationals not to travel to Pakistan without valid travel documents as Islamabad is yet to consider their request to relax Torkham border crossing during Ramzan and Eid.
Khassadars, the Khyber rifles personnel, and other border officials made the announcements through loudspeakers near the Torkham border on the expiration of the deadline on May 31.
They informed the Afghan citizens that they would not be allowed to enter Pakistan without a visa and other valid travel documents. The announcement said that those who tried to enter Pakistan illegally would be detained and imprisoned.
A large number of Afghan citizens and border officials gathered near the border and heard the announcement.
The Afghan border officials, however, were not happy with the restrictions. They said that restricting Afghans from entering Pakistan would create a gulf between the people of both countries.
Afghan border security forces incharge at Torkham, Colonel Nisar Khan said that Pakistan should relax the border during Ramzan, especially for those seeking medical treatment in Peshawar.
He said that they would be compelled to shut down the border for all kinds of movements if Pakistan did not show flexibility. He said that they would not allow trucks to transport Pakistani goods to central Asian republics.
Afghan officials at Torkham confirmed that Kabul was in contact with Islamabad to find a solution to the issue.
Sources said that the Pakistan Foreign Office had received an official request from Afghanistan to extend its deadline.
According to details, any Afghan who travels back to his country will lose his ‘refugee’ status.
