KHYBER: Pakistani transporters have expressed serious concern over the continued delay in the return of hundreds of trucks stranded in Afghanistan for the past nine months, warning that they will launch protests if the issue is not resolved by tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference at the District Press Club Khyber, transport leaders Rahman Zeb Afridi, Bilawal Afridi and Humayun Shinwari said that a jirga was held last week at the Commissioner’s Office in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Mehsud. Representatives of the Afghan Consulate and relevant authorities from both sides participated in the meeting.

According to the transporters, the jirga had decided that Pakistani trucks stranded in Afghanistan would be allowed to return through the Torkham border crossing starting June 11. Following the decision, transporters thanked the authorities of both countries and expressed hope that the long-standing issue would finally be resolved.

However, they said that despite the passing of the agreed date, not a single truck has been permitted to return to Pakistan. They alleged that the delay appears to be the result of obstacles created by the Afghan authorities.

The transport leaders stated that more than 600 vehicles belonging to residents of Khyber district have remained stranded in Afghanistan for the past nine months, causing severe financial hardship for their owners.

Also Read : KP directs authorities to expedite repatriation of illegal foreigners

They said that the trucks are the sole source of income for many families, and the prolonged suspension of operations has pushed several households toward extreme economic distress.

The transporters added that they had repeatedly approached the Afghan Consulate and other relevant forums to seek a resolution, but no tangible progress had been made so far. They said that officials from both countries had assured them during the jirga that the matter would be resolved promptly, but the commitment has yet to be implemented.

The transport leaders urged the Afghan government to immediately allow the stranded Pakistani trucks to return home. They warned that if the issue remains unresolved, they would expand their protest campaign and block the movement of vehicles carrying Afghan refugees on the Pak-Afghan Highway as a form of protest.