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Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Stalls Foot Traffic Amid Passport Policy Dispute
Chaman's Bab Dosti border faces disruption as Afghan authorities block entry for Pakistani citizens on identity cards, impacting cross-border trade and travel.
ND
by News Desk
2024-07-22
Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Stalls Foot Traffic Amid Passport Policy Dispute

The Bab Dosti border crossing in Chaman remains at a standstill as Afghan authorities refuse entry to Pakistani citizens holding identity cards, despite recent efforts to resolve a prolonged dispute over passport policies.

 

Levies officials reported that Pakistani businessmen and laborers gathered at Bab Dosti to cross into Afghanistan were denied entry by Afghan border authorities citing the requirement for passports. Similarly, Afghan citizens seeking to enter Pakistan are also facing restrictions at the Taqeera crossing.

 

The district administration had recently reinstated the previous policy allowing travel on identity cards, following nine months of protests against stricter passport requirements at Bab Dosti. However, Afghan Border Police claim they were not informed of any formal agreement reached between Pakistani authorities and protestors.

 

The stalemate has significantly impacted trade and travel between the two countries, with both Pakistani and Afghan nationals caught in the cross-border disruption. Efforts to negotiate a resolution to the passport policy disagreement have so far yielded mixed results, adding to the uncertainty at Chaman's key crossing point.

 

As tensions persist at Bab Dosti, stakeholders continue efforts to restore smooth cross-border movement while addressing the regulatory discrepancies causing the current impasse. The situation underscores the complex challenges in managing border dynamics between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 
Tagged:

Chaman

PakistanAfghanistanBorder

PassportPolicy

CrossBorderTrade
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