Torkham border closure: Sherpao asks govt to resolve issues through talks

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Afghan Consul General in Peshawar Mohibullah Shakir on Sunday discussed matters of mutual interest, including the closure of the Torkham border, regional peace and stability. A press release said that the Afghan consul general called on the QWP leader at Watan Kor here. It said that the QWP leader and the Afghan consul general discussed various issues, including the closure of the Torkham border and the problems faced by the Afghan citizens living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Aftab Sherpao underlined the need for resolving all issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan through talks and said that the two countries shared common religion, culture and history. The QWP leader said the closure of the Torkham border was causing millions of dollars of loss to both the countries, adding that transporters, traders and common people were facing a host of problems due to the prevailing stalemate. He said the Pak-Afghan trade volume was already low, therefore, efforts should be made to boost trade between the two countries. He said that boosting trade would help improve bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul. He said that the Torkham border closure had created problems for Afghan patients seeking medical treatment in Pakistan. Aftab Sherpao asked the federal government to extend the deadline for the Afghan refugees keeping in view the month of Ramazan and come up with an agreed upon timeline for their return to give them ample time to go back to their country. He said that both the governments should take steps to remove the trust deficit to improve their relations.