KHYBER: Scores of political parties and civil society activists staged a “peace march” in Landi Kotal area here on Saturday amid calls for a meaningful Pak-Afghan dialogue for an early reopening of Torkham border.

Holding banners, they called for the restoration of traditional relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan as neighbouring countries.

The speakers said the prolonged border closure and hostilities between border forces had immensely troubled the people on both sides of the border, while traders and transporters suffered huge financial losses.

They insisted that gunfire was not a solution to the border issue and it widened the “gulf” between both countries, multiplying the misery of people.

Demand meaningful dialogue for early border reopening

The speakers urged both countries to resolve the issue through dialogue and ensure early border reopening.

Meanwhile, residents said that the situation in Torkham had been calm since Thursday, with the guns falling silent on both sides and residents gradually returning to their homes in Bacha Maina.

Authorities had vacated the customs terminal and asked all loaded vehicles parked there to shift to the National Logistic Cell terminal in Jamrud.

Vehicles loaded with food and other perishable goods have already returned to Peshawar, while exporters and Afghan Transit Trade dealers advised their cargoes to stay back at the Karachi port until the reopening of the Torkham border.

WOMEN’S DAY: Women here have expressed disappointment about the observance of the International Women’s Day, complaining that a large section of the local female population is not even aware of the importance of the day.

They insisted that they didn’t have good reasons to be part of such celebrations for lagging far behind in every aspect of societal progress and prosperity.

Young female councillor and rights activist from Landi Kotal Sumia Afridi told Dawn that empowerment of tribal women was one of the biggest issues as they were neither included in the decision-making process nor were they assigned any important position to positively influence the otherwise miserable lives of tribal women.

She said tribal women were denied due share in inheritance by male family members in the name of so-called tribal customs and traditions, and they also lacked access to quality healthcare and education.

The councillor said even as an elected public representative, she was a victim of male chauvinism as she was neither called to council meetings nor was she allowed to raise her voice for the local oppressed women.

“I don’t see any valid reason as to why we [women] shall celebrate this day as we’re consistently denied our legal and religious rights,” she said.

Woman councillor Zakira Bibi complained that the assent of most tribal girls was not sought to their marriage proposals, causing perpetual mental and physical stress to most of them after marriage.

She wondered how a tribal woman could be happy about her existence and become part of such international occasions when her birth was observed with sorrow and grief.

“So much so that the tribal women are treated with disdain and disrespect throughout their lives with no liberty or share in the parents’ hereditary belongings,” she said.

However, young social activist and councillor from Jamrud Karishma Kanwal insisted that tribal women should observe the day as that act would help them raise voice for their legitimate rights.

“We need to become part of such international events as it will help communicate with the world and inform it about our plight,” she said.

KILLED: Gunmen killed a trader in broad daylight in Bara Bazaar here on Saturday.

Gulzar of Pishtakhara Payan was targeted when he was sitting in his shop in the bazaar.

Bara Traders Union president Said Ayaz complained that the incident took place a few meters away from a police checkpoint but the personnel couldn’t arrest the culprits.

He demanded of the police chief to order immediate arrest of the killers and better security in the bazaar.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025