Afghanistan closes Kabul route for Kurram people

PESHAWAR: The only road linking Kurram Agency with the outside world was closed after the Afghan government told tribesmen that they could not travel to Peshawar via Kabul because of the presidential election to be held there on August 20.Sources said the Afghan government had informed the authorities in Upper and Lower Kurram that the border with Pakistan would remain closed till the completion of election process.
People of the region have been travelling to Peshawar and other parts of the country via Kabul and Jalalabad for almost two years since the main highway linking Parachinar with Thall cannot be used because of militancy.At present, a Cessna plane is the only means of transportation for the people of Kurram. Its one-way fare is Rs7,000 per passenger. The air strip in Parachinar has proper landing facilities built by the Civil Aviation Authority in late 1980s.President Asif Ali Zardari had recently directed the ministry of defence to arrange flights between Peshawar and Parachinar, but no action has been taken so far.