Pedestrian traffic restored at Torkham border after brief suspension

KHYBER: The pedestrian traffic at the Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been restored after brief suspension as the crossing was closed following a clash between the Frontier Corps (FC) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), security sources said on Sunday.

Earlier, Geo News reported citing sources that the NADRA point at the Torkham border crossing was closed after the clash over some disagreement regarding immigration affairs, leaving several people going to Afghanistan via the border stuck in the middle.

However, the crossing was reopened after brief suspension of traffic.

Government sources said that the disagreement between FC and FIA took place over the crowd management at the border; however, higher ups of both the agencies resolved the matter swiftly.

They said that law enforcement agencies try to fulfill the legal requirements to prevent the movement of terrorists or illegal individuals and crowding increases the risk of any such untoward situation.

Earlier, the hospital sources said that five people were injured in the scuffle and were shifted to Landi Kotal Hospital. Their condition was out of danger, they added.

The FIA alleged that the FC staff was interfering with immigration matters. However, the sources said, the fight broke out after the FC officials continued to intervene despite being asked to stop.

Following this, the FIA immigration staff also closed offices in protest, added the sources.

Meanwhile, FC sources said that the security of the border is their responsibility.

"FC officials keep a close watch on passengers for security," they added.

The road is a key lifeline for Afghanistan, linking the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar to Jalalabad, the main city in Nangarhar, and the route onwards to the capital, Kabul.

The Torkham border point is the main point of transit for travellers and goods between both countries.