Angoor Ada residents ‘forced’ to get Pakistani ID cards

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Officials and some residents of southeastern Paktika province claim Pakistani forces have occupied farmland and forests near the Durand Line and have been asking local residents to get Pakistani ID cards if wanted to return to their areas.

The Pakistani forces have been trying to force Barmal and Shkin districts’ residents into getting Pakistani identity cards near the Angoor Ada border with Pakistan, a resident of the area, Sadiq, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“Pakistani forces have occupied lands and forests of people in order to issue them ID cards. They force people to get the ID cards to be allowed to come to their areas and find market for their pine fruits,” he said, adding the area people had so far no intention to get Pakistani ID cards.

“Over the past few years, I have been brining in goods from Pakistan in my vehicle, but recently the forces told us to get Pakistani ID cards otherwise they would not let us commute,” a driver at the Angoor Ada area, Obaidullah, said.

A member of the provincial council, Naimatullah Babari, confirmed the claims, saying if the Afghan government did nothing, the people of Barmal and Shkin districts would be obliged to get the Pakistani ID cards.

The civil society coordination centre head, Yaqub Khan Manzoor, said the Pakistani forces were forcing people to get Pakistan nationality, but the Afghan government was yet to take any step to resolve the issue.

Paktika governor Aminullah Shariq said they had shared the issue with high-ranking officials and a solution to the issue would be found soon.

myn