Iran temporarily relaxes Afghan vehicles’ check: Alokozai

KABUL-bound trade goods carrying vehicles by Iranian authorities has temporarily been resolved, an official said on Monday.

The relaxation resulted in calling off protests by Afghan drivers at a dry port in southwestern Nimroz province, second deputy head of Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Khan Jan Alokozai told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The problem arose when Iran started thoroughly checking vehicles entering Afghanistan from Iran, he said.

In the past, authorities in Iran would use to check Afghanistan-bound vehicles at the Abbas Port only, he said, adding the strict checking had reduced the number of vehicles crossing the border from 500 to 120 a day, forcing Afghan drivers and traders to launch protest against the move.

“The Iranian government on Sunday agreed to permit these vehicles to cross the border without any strict check through Nimroz port on a temporary basis,” Alokozai said, adding they were trying to solve the problem permanently. He said the issue was being discussed with officials of the Iranian embassy in Kabul.

Afghanistan imports 60 percent of trade goods from Iran through the Abbas port.

Alokozai also said the issue of 500 Afghanistan-bounded vehicles stranded in Pakistan remained unresolved.

mas/ma