To enable hassle-free cross-border travel for those of Pakistani nationality living in border regions of Afghanistan, local authorities have decided to issue special cards. Officials stated that all people who were interested in receiving the special cards for movement from Afghanistan into Pakistan would be issued a form, which would be filled out and submitted to the office of the relevant tehsildar. The forms, according to the officials, would be attested and carefully examined before being submitted.

Elders from Utmanzai reported that Pakistani nationals living in the neighboring provinces of Khost, Paktia, and Paktika were having a very difficult time crossing the border to visit their relatives.

The military decided to give Pakistani citizens with legitimate national identity cards special passes after requests from the locals. Elders of Utmanzai appreciated the decision.

The tribal natives have been underpinning the need for special cards and restoration of their easement rights for a long time, hence such decisions from the authorities are surely promising, people-centric, and likely to ensure harmony and fraternity in the border region in the longer run.

In a similar vein, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, has been implementing a unique Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/ II initiative Beyond Boundaries since October 2015, as part of its efforts to help improve relations between the two countries and enhance people-to-people contacts. During the Center’s recent series of engagements between January and February with tribal stakeholders from the Pak-Afghan border region, the dialogue participants – besides underscoring core governance and socioeconomic concerns – echoed the demand for ‘special cards’ to facilitate their cross-border movement and revision of the easement rights.

The government on both sides of the border should address the grave concerns of the tribal areas as the border region serve as an economic corridor and is a hub of lucrative activity, but little has been done so far to facilitate its inhabitants. The socioeconomic development of the bordering areas should be prioritized and mainstreamed by the relevant stakeholders as doing so would stabilize a region that has predominantly remained overlooked and underserved due to perpetual political conflict and security upheaval – all of which end in human loss and infrastructural vacuum.

Under arrangement between Matrix and CRSS.

Elsa Imdad