Afghan trucks in Wagah to lift Indian-donated wheat

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Dozens of Afghan trucks arrived at Wagah border to transport the first consignment of India-donated wheat to Afghanistan.

The Indian India has pledged to deliver 50,000 tonnes of wheat to the war-devastated country through the Pakistani land route.

The loading of wheat is likely to begin today (Tuesday) onto more than 40 Afghan trucks that have reached the Pakistan-India border.

A Pakistani customs official said: “The 41 trucks, driven by Afghan drivers, were allowed to enter Pakistani territory at Torkham on Monday morning.”

Dawn quoted the Lahore-based official as saying: “After visa clearance and other legal formalities, the trucks moved to Lahore under tight security.”

District police chiefs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces have been directed to ensure the security of the convoy that reached Wagah Monday evening.

According to the newspaper, the convoy was supposed to consist of 60 trucks, but only 41 were received at Torkham.

Before being parked at the National Logistic Cell’s yard, the trucks nd their drivers were checked thoroughly by customs and security personnel.

For collecting the wheat, the trucks will be allowed by the customs, immigration and security officials to enter Indian territory at Attari.

The loading of wheat, clearance from Indian officials and return of the trucks to Pakistan could take several hours, the newspaper added.

All these formalities would be met today, the official said, adding the vehicles would be allowed to leave for Afghanistan after customs and security clearance.”

He believed transporting the wheat from India via Wagah to Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad would take a month.

Earlier, Pakistan agreed to facilitate the duty-free transportation of the commodity through its territory to Afghanistan.

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