Pashtun jirga calls for reopening of Chaman crossing

KABUL (Pajhwok): A jirga of Pashtun elders in Chaman has urged Pakistan to reopen the Spin Boldak–Chaman crossing to resolve the problems of thousands of stranded passengers and cargo vehicles, a media report said on Wednesday.

Amanullah Khan and Malik Abdul Khaliq Lala Ghabizai, Pashtun tribal elders, told a press conference on Tuesday that trade had been suspended for the past two months, bringing all economic activities in the crossing areas to a complete standstill, Dawn reported.

The elders said thousands of people travelling on valid passports and visas had been stranded in Afghanistan for several weeks, adding that the legal documents of many travellers had expired, compounding their difficulties.

They also said thousands of trucks carrying household belongings of migrants were stuck at the crossing.

The elders urged the authorities to allow residents of Chaman to travel freely to their areas and remove checkpoints.

They further announced that a three-day Pashtun National Jirga would be convened to highlight the problems and demands of residents of Chaman and other districts.

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