BAJAUR: Participants of a jirga held here on Wednesday expressed concern about the delay in reopening of the border routes with Afghanistan, which has hit trade and people’s movement.

Awami National Party convened the Qaumi Jirga in Nawagai Bazaar, located near the Mohmand district.

Elders, clerics, political and business leaders, youth leaders and social activists attended the meeting, according to a statement.

ANP MPA Nisar Khan, local chapter president Gul Afzal Khan, central leader Maulana Khanzeb, and party workers Sheikh Janzada, Shah Naseer Khan, Sayed Sadiq Akbar, Mohammad Imran, All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance founding chairman Qazi Abdul Manan, trade leaders Sahibzada Malang Jan and Qiyas Khan were among those who spoke on the occasion.

They highlighted the significance of the reopening of the border routes for socioeconomic development of local residents.

Nawa Pass, Ghakhi Pass and Latai Pass are the major trade routes Bajaur has with Afghanistan. However, they had been closed since 2007 due to security reasons, said the statement issued by Obaid Khan Salarzai, the party’s Bajaur information secretary.

The speakers said that the prolonged closure of border points was impacting the local economy as these had long been used for trade and people’s movement.

The speakers said reopening of these points, especially Nawa Pass, would also benefit the Malakand division and the neighbouring Mohmand district.

The speakers asked governments in Pakistan and Afghanistan to take tangible steps for the early reopening of the three border routes.

The speakers expressed anguish at the reports that about 1,300 students from different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bajaur, who were studying in medical colleges in Afghanistan, had been stranded there due to the closure of Torkham border.

The speakers urged both the central and provincial governments to take immediate steps to ensure their safe return to their homeland.

The participants also lashed out at the provincial government for denying development funds to ANP MPA Nisar Khan.

The jirga participants also expressed concern over the growing incidents of terrorism in the province, calling on the government to take effective measures to restore peace and stability in the region.

The participants also urged local authorities to restore mobile phone service in Chamarkand, Kamamgara and other mountainous areas.

The jirga concluded with a resolution, asking the government to take immediate steps to address the issues highlighted at the forum.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025