Dand Patan-KP road reopens after a month closure

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): The road connecting Dand Patan district of southeastern Paktia province with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan was reopened on Friday after remaining closed for about a month.

The trade route was closed following a clash between Afghan and Pakistani security forces about a month ago. Two Afghans were killed in the exchange of fire.

Mualvi  Nazim, Dand Patan district chief, told Pajhwok tribal leaders from both sides held several meetings with the Pakistani delegation and finally the road was opened.

He added the Pakistani side promised cooperation with the Afghan side and not to repeat what happened a month ago that led to the closure of the road.

He said vehicles carrying commercial goods, which were stuck on both sides, had resumed journey to their destinations.  Patients who wanted to go to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for treatment could do so normally as before, he added.

Traders also expressed happiness over the reopening of the route and said its closure negatively impacted their business.

Rohullah Zazai, a driver, told Pajhwok they waited for a month for the road to reopen.”Not only the drivers, but also the sick and other passengers spent the nights and days in very bad conditions”

He said thousands of vehicles loaded with food and non-food items remained stranded for a month on both sides of the Durand Line and it was possible some food items had begun to decay.

Clashes have also taken place between Afghan and Pakistani forces before, but it happened for the first time that the Dand-Patan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa road was closed for a month.

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