Pak-Afghan joint jirga soughts easement at Torkham border

Ashrafuddin Pirzada LANDIKOTAL: Pak-Afghan elders agreed to constitute joint grand jirga members to take up the problems faced by Pakistan and Afghan citizens and sought an easement for traders and commutors at Torkham border so that the gulf created due various reasons could be removed. The grand was held on Sunday at former parliamentarian Haji Gulab Shinwari hujra in Landikotal. The jirga was participated by more than five hundreds elders from all Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani side was headed by Malik Masal Khan while Afghan Jirga members led by Lal Afghan Kakar. Speaking on the occasion Lal Agha Kakar thanked Pakistani hosts. He said the jirga came from Afghanistan was from 12 districts of Ningraha province. He said being the Shura head of Ningrahar villages committee he want to find solution for the problems they brought to Pakistan.

He said Pakistani and Afghan women were being insulted on both sides of the Torkham border. Kakar said they share the same culture and religion but unfortunately tried to devided.He said they came to Pakistan not for politics but to have close relation with their Pakistani brothers. He said they were struggling to bring an ease on the Torkham. "Eight entry points are established on the border with Afghanistan but restrictions imposed only at Torkham border", said Kakar. He invited Pakistani eldera to visit Afghanistan. "A woman gave birth to a child few weeks ago on the Torkham border in Afghanistan but she was not allowed to enter Pakistan",said Kakar. He said trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was sinking down due to restrictions Torkham border. He said citizens on both sides depending on trade and transportation that had been restricted. He said business activities were gradually converting to other borders of Afghanistan.

Kakar said minor children were being used as child labourers at Torkham border. He said they demand from the governments to allow Afghans and Pakistanis to cross the border on their CNICs. He said a committee should be constituted to have communication between the jirga members. He thanked the Pakistani citizens for arranging such grand jirga. Kakar urged that both sides to unite and help each others.He said they had been living in Pakistan for thirty years during Rassian war and have had blood relations with Pakistani citizens. He said govt should also extend their sympathies and let the inhabitents to cross the border without imposing illogic conditions. Akhtar Muhammad Afghan said the jirga was not had bo political intentions participents were taken from Afghan Shinwari clans to raise their voice good relation with Pakistan. He said Pakistan was their second home and want enjoy good relations with its citizens.

Malik Darya Khan said Pashtoon were devided with different names. He said they need to find solution for the problems prevail on the both sides of the border. He welcomed the Afghan jirga members and said that Pakistan was their second home of Afghan Pashtoons. "You are not guest but came to own hujra",Darya Khan. He chanted the "Lar o bar Yao Afghan(Afghan are one on both sides) slogans. He said If Sikhs have free visa system at Kartarpur why not for Afghan citizens", Darya Khan said.He added they have been treated as stip brothers. Darya Khan said they met with authorities who promised that the government would bring an ease on the Torkham border crossing.

Bacha Khan wanted to unite Pashtoons in Pakistan and Afghanistan,Darya Khan said. He promised that all political parties would be taken on borad and would find solution for hindrences imposed for people to cross the border. He said it was the Afghanistani citizens have right to chose their national leaders. He said they want peace in Afghanistan. Zahid Shinwari,an Afghan student in Ningrahar said that they came to Pakistan on visa which was a tough task to get it. Haji Kaotar of Durbab district in Ningrahar said Pashtuns in both countries could not be devided. He said his wife was from an Afridi tribe and wedded his two daughters in Pakistan. He said failed to attend his father-in-law funeral in district Khyber due to hard and fadt conditions imposed for visa process. He said tribals want solution for the restrictions on the border. "I came after ten years to Pakistan but got the visa after a fifteen days hard struggle"'said Kaotar.

Zainullah, resident of Durbaba in Afghanistan said they must go through a hard process to cross the Torkham border. He demand from both Pakistan and Afghanistan to let the tribals on both sides to live togather. Shah Hussain,ANP Landikotal president said "easement right" was their legal and international right which was not obeyed at Torkham border crossing.He said if their legal demands were not accept they would observed protest. He said they were not facing problems in Pakistan but Afghanistan also violating human rights. He said some criminal minded people wanted to destroy trade between Pak-Afghan businessmen. JUI-F leader Mufti Ejaz said Afghan soldiers turture passengers. He said both governments should respect humanity.

MPA Shafiq Sher said it was not the lone duty of a single person but MNA and other influentials should play their role. He said they have met with different Afghan and Pakistani officials and worked for the friendly border relation with Afghanistan. He said Pakistan should bring relaxation in visa process. Qari Zahirullah Zahir and other Afghan elders spoke on the occasion.