South Asia

Quetta-Chaman Highway between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopens after negotiations

QUETTA, Pakistan — Traffic between Quetta, Pakistan, and Kandahar province in Afghanistan resumed Wednesday evening on the Quetta-Chaman National Highway following successful negotiations between local tribal leaders and government officials, Pakistani media reported.

The road had been blocked by tribesmen after violent clashes with security forces during an anti-poppy cultivation drive in the Gulistan area and other parts of Qila Abdullah district, which borders Afghanistan, according to Dawn News. The confrontations resulted in the deaths of two tribesmen and injuries to six security personnel, disrupting the Afghan transit trade and other import-export activities.

Negotiations were facilitated between the Ghabizai tribe, led by Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan Ghabizai, and government officials, including Frontier Corps Commandant Brig Umar and Chaman DC Athar Abbas.

Under the agreement reached, an FIR (First Information Report) will be filed against those accused of killing the two tribesmen, families of the deceased will receive compensation, and FC and administration officials will visit the bereaved families to offer condolences. Additionally, all cases registered against the tribesmen during the incident will be reviewed.