Protests Resumed in Chaman Against Passport Requirement for Pakistan-Afghanistan Border

Chaman:the border town between Pakistan and Afghanistan, protests have resumed from Tuesday against the Pakistani government’s passport requirement for cross-border travel. According to trade leader and protest committee spokesperson, Sadiq Achakzai, the demonstrations were restarted due to the failure to restore the previous travel arrangements to their proper state.

Sadiq Achakzai reported that during a recent meeting of all parties, traders, and the Laghari Union, it was decided to resume the protest at the previous location. Consequently, containers were placed on the highway to set up a stage, and the protest began at 10 AM.

Achakzai mentioned that during their previous detention, government officials had assured them that travel would resume as before, based on Pakistani ID cards and Afghan Tazkira (identity cards). Former caretaker Interior Minister Malik Inayat Kasi and Commander Haji Lalu Achakzai were the guarantors of this agreement.

Contrary to these assurances, it is now stated that those traveling on Afghan Tazkira are only allowed to proceed from the Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate) to the parking area. The protesters demand that residents of Chaman and Qilla Abdullah be allowed to travel to Afghanistan on national ID cards, while people from Afghanistan’s Kandahar province up to the Takhta Pul area should be permitted to travel from Chaman to Qilla Abdullah using Afghan Tazkira.