Normal trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot resume while terrorist attacks are launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil, Adviser to the Governor on Information and Public Relations Samar Haroon Bilour said on Saturday. Pak-Afghan trade, she said, will stay shut until the security question is settled.
She said the reopening of trade routes depended on addressing Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and securing practical cooperation from the Afghan authorities. She urged Kabul to ensure that its territory was not used by militant groups to carry out attacks against Pakistan.
“The threat of terrorism persists, but the law and order situation in the province has improved,” the governor’s adviser said in a statement issued by her office. She attributed the improvement to increased police patrolling and better coordination between the police and security forces.
Pak-Afghan trade: what reopening the routes would need
Ms Bilour made it clear that trade was not a separate file from security. Pakistan wants Kabul to act against the groups that use Afghan soil to plan attacks, and to cooperate in practical terms before the crossings reopen in full.
The statement lands after a tense autumn on the border. Warning shots were fired at a border post near Torkham in late October, and Pakistan rejected Afghan claims over the Angoor Adda crossing days later. Traders on both sides have borne the cost each time the crossings close, with trucks stranded and perishable goods spoiling while talks drag on.
The main crossings at Torkham and Chaman carry the bulk of bilateral trade, including Afghan transit goods, fresh fruit and vegetables. Each closure hits transporters, clearing agents and small traders first.
Police redeployment in KP
Highlighting the importance of public participation in maintaining peace, Ms Bilour said the Area Representative and Development Councils were providing a platform for local consultation and facilitating intelligence-based operations.
She disclosed that around 5,000 to 6,000 personnel, out of nearly 10,000 deployed on private security duties, had been recalled to police lines for redeployment. The remaining cases, she added, were being reviewed individually, taking into account the genuine security threats faced by political and religious leaders.
The redeployment is part of a wider effort to put more police back on public duty in a province that has faced repeated militant attacks. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the front line of Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, and the provincial government has been under pressure to show that its police force is being used where it is needed most. Pakistan has also rejected claims that armed Afghans were being pushed across the border, and Punjab has taken action against illegal Afghan nationals as part of the wider crackdown.
Sehat Card and state land
Describing the Sehat Card programme as an important initiative, particularly for low-income and lower-middle-income families, Ms Bilour expressed concern over alleged corruption, the influence of vested interests and preferential treatment in procurement processes.
She also referred to allegations of commissions and kickbacks, stressing that transparency, accountability and merit must be ensured in the programme. The health card gives poor families free treatment at panel hospitals, and any leakage in procurement cuts directly into the care patients receive.
On the issue of government land, she made it clear that state property must be protected and no individual or organisation would be granted preferential treatment on the basis of political affiliation or influence. She emphasised that action against illegal occupation of government land must be taken impartially and without discrimination.
Reforms will take time, she says
Ms Bilour observed that it was unrealistic to expect problems accumulated over the past 13 years to be resolved within 13 days or a few weeks. Nevertheless, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introducing reforms and taking practical measures to improve governance.
She further stressed that providing young people with access to education, employment and development opportunities was essential to preventing their involvement in militancy.
The governor’s adviser also confirmed that Pakistan’s national flag had been hoisted on government buildings and offices in the areas concerned.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Pak-Afghan trade suspended?
Samar Haroon Bilour said normal trade cannot resume while terrorist attacks are launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil. Reopening the routes depends on addressing Pakistan’s security concerns and practical cooperation from the Afghan authorities.
Which crossings carry Pak-Afghan trade?
The main crossings are Torkham in Khyber district and Chaman in Balochistan. They carry bilateral trade as well as Afghan transit goods, fresh fruit and vegetables.
What did Bilour say about the Sehat Card?
She called the programme important for low-income families but raised concern over alleged corruption, vested interests and preferential treatment in procurement, and said transparency, accountability and merit must be ensured.
How many police personnel are being redeployed in KP?
Around 5,000 to 6,000 of the nearly 10,000 personnel on private security duties have been recalled to police lines for redeployment, with the remaining cases reviewed individually.
