Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing reopens after a month

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The Spin Boldak-Chaman route was reopened on Tuesday after staying closed for nearly a month.

Containers stranded on both sides of the Durand Line were allowed to move from 12:00 midnight to 7:00am.

Since Tuesday morning, passengers were allowed to cross into their respective countries, an official told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Qari Gul Mohammad, director of the Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he met Pakistani officials and businessmen on Monday.

Discussions on the issue resulted in the reopening of the crossing point for travellers and commercial goods.

Spin Boldak Commissioner Zaeem Agha, meanwhile, confirmed the crossing point had been opened and pedestrian movement allowed.

He explained people with Afghan and Pakistani identity cards and passports could cross the Durand Line. However, patients did not need to have travel documents.

The Chaman-Spin Boldak road would remain open round the clock for vehicles and from 8:00am to 4:00pm for travelers.

On the other hand, Kandahar governor spokesman Maulvi Azam old Pajhwok only people with Kandahar ID cards could travel to the neighbouring country, Residents of other provinces were not allowed to do so.

He added the Pakistani side had demanded that ravel should be on a passport only, but the Afghans had not accepted it.

However, passengers complained there were still problems on the road on the Pakistani side.

Akhtar Mohammad, a passenger who travelled from Kandahar to Chaman today, told Pajhwok the Pakistani side had further tightened conditions for passengers.

Body searches and the biometric process took about two hours, he grumbled. Those without Kandahar ID cards are still beaten and extorted by Pakistani militiamen.

sa/mud