Stranded Afghans demand Torkham border reopened

LANDIKOTAL: Around 300 Afghan nationals, including women and children, stranded at Landikotal and other areas in Khyber Agency, have appealed to Pakistani authorities to reopen the border to facilitate them in reaching their homes in Afghanistan.

Several Afghan families have taken shelters at mosques in Landikotal and are facing shortage of foods. Talking to The News, Aurang Khan, 55, hailing from Paktia province of Afghanistan, said he had arrived in Pakistan a month ago on valid travel documents. He said he and several Afghan nationals were stranded in Landikotal due to the closure of the border with Afghanistan.

Aurang Khan said his family was refused entry into Afghanistan after they reached the Torkham border a week ago. “I have spent all my money I had brought from Afghanistan, rented two rooms and have been buying foods in Landikotal bazaar,’’ Aurang said. He said his family was without food now as he exhausted all the money.

Gul Agha, 35, another Afghan national from Kabul, said he came to Pakistan to visit his relatives in Punjab. He said on return they were not allowed to enter Afghanistan and were asked to wait till reopening of the Torkham border.

He said they had been facing food and shelter problems for the last seven days as they were living in mosques and other under construction buildings in Landikotal.Gul Agha said around 10 minor children, 20 elderly women and men were residing in the Landikotal bazaar’s mosque as they had no money to rent rooms in hotels.

The stranded Afghan nationals appealed the Pakistan government to reopen the border so that they could go back homes in Afghanistan. Assistant Political Agent of Landikotal, Niaz Muhammad, said they were providing food to the Afghans on the Pakistan side of the border.