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| Peshawar-Torkham Road ‘dangerous’ for journey |
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Daud Khattak
PESHAWAR: Once reckoned as peaceful of the seven tribal agencies, Khyber Agency is rapidly becoming insecure, particularly for those traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan, using with trepidation the nearly 40-kilometre road from Karkhano to Torkham border crossing.
The increasing number of kidnappings on the Peshawar-Torkham Highway, mostly in the area between Landikotal and Jamrud, and the recent broad daylight murder of Peshawar-based Afghan journalist Janullah Hashimzada, has exacerbated fear among commuters using the land route to reach the neighbouring country or arrive in the city of Peshawar.
Thousands of people cross the Torkham border on daily basis. A majority of those is the young Pakistanis working in banks and other financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, both local and foreign, construction industry, telecommunication sector as well as involved in labour jobs.
Majority of them complained that they fear being kidnapped by gang of criminals or militants no sooner did they cross the border to enter Khyber Agency and start traveling in a car or a mini-coach to reach Peshawar. They said the increasing incidents of kidnapping and some recent killing of civilians by hooded armed men scared them to the extent that they avoid using the luxury cars and prefer to keep low profile by traveling in a hi-ace or other passenger coach instead.
Traveling on the nearly 40-kilometre road, also being used as a key supply route for Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan, was safe just a year ago. However, the wave of kidnapping for ransom in Peshawar also spread to the road where armed men started picking travelers at their own free will despite the presence of security pickets alongside the road.
According to unofficial figures, around 70,000 Pakistanis are working in Afghanistan in different sectors. Majority of them are young professionals in banking and finance, information technology, accounting, telecommunications, NGOs as well as construction of roads and buildings.
“I was scared to enter Afghanistan after crossing Torkham from Khyber Agency less than two years ago, but the case is opposite now,” said Hafeez Khan, a bank employee in Kabul since 2004.
Hafeez Khan said the unfolding of some gory incidents, like the kidnapping of Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin, the torching and bombing of Afghanistan-bound goods vehicles, the killing of relatives of a federal minister, the bomb attack at a mosque and the everyday kidnappings of the businessmen, both Afghans and locals, had increased their apprehensions while traveling on the historical route.
“I suddenly feel relaxed as I enter Afghanistan from Khyber Agency at Torkham,” said the young man, adding that the presence of militants and criminals was a constant source of nuisance for the commuters on the Peshawar-Torkham route.
Muhammad Bilal, an IT professional working in Kabul for the past five years, told The News that traveling on the route was never that much terrible as it was now, particularly after late 2007.
“I used to travel in a luxury car from Torkham to Peshawar, but I stopped using it due to fear of militants and criminals stalking the Torkham-Peshawar Road,” said Bilal. He said his parents advised him to keep a low profile while using the route as militants and criminals usually waylay those seated in luxury vehicles.
The road, starting from Karkhano and reaching Torkham border crossing, is manned by Frontier Corps and Khassadars at regular intervals. However, militants and criminals strike at one place and escape without being caught or hit by the security personnel. Earlier there was Taliban presence in Jamrud and Landikotal but they fled or went underground following military operation this year.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
