Closed doors

The continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have persisted now for months, most notably after Pakistan began constructing a wall dividing the two countries along the long Durand Line have now begun to effect ordinary people. For the fourth consecutive day on Monday, Pakistan kept the Friendship Gate at the Chaman crossing point between Balochistan and Kandahar province shut, even as the line of trucks attempting to take Nato supplies, the transit trade and other items across the frontier grew longer and longer.

The gate had been shut and barred on Friday after it was pelted from the Afghan side and a Pakistan flag burned. Discussion on the issue at the diplomatic level is said to be taking place. But it comes amidst an atmosphere of mounting animosity. According to some reports, Baloch tribesmen based close to the border area have also raised slogans against Afghans and we have heard the inevitable accusations that India is fueling the unrest on our Western border. Traders say that as a result of the closure of the crossing point, fruit supplies have been rotting and it is not possible to take them to markets. The same is true of other perishable items while the stranded trucks also pose a problem both for Nato forces and for businessmen. The problem will need to be resolved as swiftly as possible. Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan exists on a large scale, with Afghanistan also a transit point for items moving to nations that lie beyond it. The closing of the Chaman border hinders this. It also has an impact on sellers at all levels with the sale of goods falling according to some reports because it is not possible to shift them across the frontier. Normalcy is necessary and we hope it can be restored as quickly as possible.

Mariam Hayat

Lahore