April 24, 2020
Torkham – a major border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan – beefed up, as the COVID-19 pandemic proliferates across the globe. Pakistan has been taking all precautionary measures to limit the spread of the virus internally, as well as regionally. Amid all this, Islamabad is moving forward with a very balanced approach. On one hand, it is cautious of COVID-19 spread and thus taking appropriate steps to contain it. On the other hand, it is facilitating landlocked Afghanistan, by allowing limited mobility of people and cargo trucks.
Now as the number of infected persons on both sides are surging, Pakistani authorities, have established quarantine centers and medical facilities at the Pak-Afghan borders, to treat those who are infected, right at the spot.
Last month, the Government of Pakistan, in order to prevent any transmission of the disease into or from its neighbor Afghanistan, sealed the Chaman border crossing point located in Balochistan for travel and commercial activities on March 02. It was the first preventive measure in relation to Afghanistan. Prior to that, Pakistan had already taken steps to limit the movement of people coming from China or Iran, both being severely hit by the epidemic. During this time, the other main border crossing point with Afghanistan, Torkham – located in the tribal district of Khyber – remained open.
As the cases of corona virus rose on both sides of the border, Pakistan extended the closure of the Chaman crossing point through March 16 while also sealing the Torkham crossing point. On March 13, all international flight operations at Pakistan’s international airports were halted except Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Pakistan also announced to seal all its land borders with its neighbors for two weeks, later extending this period until April 14 and then until April 28.
However, later, on humanitarian grounds, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed authorities on March 20, to open the Chaman-Spinboldak border between Pakistan and Afghanistan to allow trucks carrying goods to cross over into landlocked Afghanistan, stating that Islamabad would continue to support Kabul during the difficult me of the global pandemic.
On April 06, Pakistan opened the border with Afghanistan for four days until April 09 to facilitate their return to their homes. According to the Foreign Ministry, the decision was taken on a special request from Kabul. At the same time, hundreds of cargo trucks carrying goods were also allowed into Afghanistan via Torkham and Chaman crossing points to ensure Afghans’ access to goods.
April 10 onwards, the Government of Pakistan has also been facilitating the movement of the cargo trucks and containers to cross over to the landlocked Afghanistan, thrice a week, i.e., Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
As of now, Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) on Information Ajmal Khan Wazir lately announced that the border will open for two days every week, so that Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan can be facilitated to return home.
Further, in conversation with various officials; more details are coming out regarding arrangements made at Pak-Afghan border, for tackling COVID-19.
In this context, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Mohammad Iqbal said that 16 quarantine centers have been established in Khyber – the newly merged tribal district – of which 07 are for Pakistanis returning from Afghanistan. On April 23, 2020, total 1,361 people have been quarantined in Khyber tribal district in seven centers, who returned from Afghanistan. He further mentioned that the ones quarantined include 884 men, 204 women and 273 children.
In addition to that, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aslam sharing the details said that 100 samples are sent being to Police Services Hospital, Peshawar, on daily basis and results take at least 48 hours. At present, 415 samples have been sent, of which results of 372 has been received. 24 have been tested positive, 306 were marked as negatives, while 42 were labelled as inconclusive.
Moreover, Additional Assistant Commissioner (AAC) Landi Kotal Shamsul Islam shared that during the last one week, 1205 registered Pakistanis were received who were stranded in Afghanistan, after the border closure owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Giving the details, he stated that on April 17, 2020, Pakistani drivers and helpers were allowed after mutual understanding between Islamabad and Kabul to let the stranded people cross the border.
195 truck drivers and helpers along with their vehicles were allowed to cross into Pakistan. They were shifted to quarantine centers at Landi Kotal. Almost 100 samples were collected on the first day and sent to Police Services Hospital, Peshawar, for COVID-19 tests. Initially, 1205 Pakistanis were to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan in a three-day period on April 17, 18 and April 21.
According to the latest information shared by the Khyber District Health Officer and district administration, 56 people who crossed over from Afghanistan; their results were tested negative for COVID-19. Afterwards, they have been handed over to the respective district police and civil administration to facilitate them in reaching their destinations.
The author Safiullah Gul is a senior journalist and trainer.
