Transporters suffer as Torkham border remains closed

The continuous closure of the Torkham border since October 13 has multiplied the woes of hundreds of stranded transporters, with many running short of money while others suffering from physical and psychological issues, it has been learnt. Local and Afghan transporters stranded on the road leading to Torkham border said that roughly around 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles, loaded with multiple trade goods, were awaiting the reopening of the border with no definite date in sight in the near future about resumption of trading relations between the two ‘hostile’ neighbours. They said that they were now faced with numerous issues, including huge and unexpected monetary losses, personal and goods security, acute shortage of food and water and continuous mental torture. Akhtar Jan, a local transporter, said that a number of his colleagues had exhausted their money during the last two weeks by arranging water and food, medicines and maintenance of their loaded vehicles. He said that none of the so-called transporters’ unions had so far inquired about their plight, while the brokers and goods owners, too, had turned a blind eye to their financial woes as they refused to offload the current consignment in order to save them from further losses.