Kunar Jirga demands opening of Nawapass crossing

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): People living on the both sides of Durand Line in eastern Kunar province have demanded the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to open the Nawapass crossing for public movement.

Some tribal elders of Sarkano district last Sunday held a meeting --- locally called Jirga --- in Nawapass area with the representatives of people living on the other side of the Durand Line.

Malak Khan Pacha, the resident of Sarkano district and a tribal elder, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Our Jirga in which elders of Mommand and Bajoru elders from the other side of Durand Line also participated decided that the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan should open the Nawapass crossing for public movement.”

He said one tribe lived on both sides of the Durand Line and they have strong relationships, they have the right to meet one another without any barrier.

“The Jirga decided that both governments should allow public movement without visa and passport.”

Qari Ziaullah, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kunar, said all crossing, including the Nawapass crossing, was closed for public and trade movement which lift negative impact on trade and commerce.

He said the reopening of Nawapass gate will not only improve relationship between the two countries but it will strength trade and economic linkages.

Mawlavi Najibullah Hanif, head of the provincial Information and Cultural Affairs Department, hailed the efforts of local elders and added such efforts could help to put pressure on the government to accept their demands.

“People living on both sides of the Durand Line shared common history, language and had strong relationship for decades. Pakistan’s fencing of the Durand Line broke our ties, now brothers and sisters cannot meet. Pakistan government should open this crossing which would prove beneficial for both sides,” he believed.

Durand Line is 2,400 kilometer long and was drawn back in 1893 before the creation of Pakistan. The agreement was inked between the then Afghanistan’s Ameer Abdul Rahman Khan and British India Foreign Affairs Head sir Mortimer Durand. The line separated Pashton tribes on both sides.

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