Cross-border travelers are facing issues as bus service between Afghanistan’s Jalalabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital is suspended for two months due to pressure from the Afghanistan government, reported Friday.
The bus service was initiated eleven years ago between the two countries.
Reportedly, breadwinners of over 1,000 families are out of jobs as vehicles are not moving on the said route.
Federal Joint Secretary, Firdous Alam and provincial Minister for Transport, Akhtar Nawaz had inaugurated the bus service in May 2006 which supported nearly 1,000 cross-border travelers.
After tensions between the two countries were diffused at Torkham border, army, and other security agencies had permitted the movement through the service but some elements in Afghanistan government are resisting.
According to reports, at least 13 buses are parked and not functioning for two months.
Unprovoked firing by Afghan forces at Torkham last month had claimed an army major’s life. Tensions between the countries escalated as Afghanistan government opposed construction of a gate by Pakistan Army to check cross-border movement.
The installation of a gate was initiated by the army more than 30 metres within Pakistan s territory. According to the ISPR, the gate will deter movement of operatives of extremist outfits from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
However, the governments stroke a consensus over the construction after around a week of intermittent firing.
