100s of trucks, truckers stranded at Pak-Afghan border

Islamabad: Hundreds of Pakistani truckers and their helpers were stranded on the Afghan side of the border at two main border crossings despite Prime Minister Imran Khan orders for opening the border for good transport, it was reported.

The Chaman and Torkham border crossings with Afghanistan and the Wagah border crossing with India were closed earlier this month in an attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 1,600 people and killed 16 of them, The Express Tribune reported.

Zahidullah, a member of the Afghan Transit Standing Committee, told The Express Tribune that around 1,500 trucks carrying shipping containers are stuck at Chaman and 800 at Torkham since last month.

“They are over 6,600 drivers and their helpers in these trucks and their life is at risk,” he said, adding that the drivers have run out of cash and food and are living in miserable conditions.

“They are selling oil and tyres of their vehicles to meet their needs.”

Image courtesy of IANS

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