Pakistan Opposition Leader Says Afghan Border Closure Has Hurt Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economy
Asad Qaiser, secretary-general of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen Pakistan, has said that the closure of the border with Afghanistan has harmed trade and the economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving residents of the province facing severe economic hardship.
He made the remarks as, according to him, continued restrictions on cross-border movement and disruptions to trade have increased economic pressure on people in the region. Qaiser stressed that the effects of the situation are not limited to traders, but have also cast a shadow over the daily lives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents.
Qaiser also criticised comments by Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, in which she said: “Our threat is not from India, but from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He condemned the remarks and said Maryam Nawaz should be ashamed of making such statements.
The secretary-general of Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen Pakistan also alleged that the wrong policies of Pakistan’s governments and the war on terror have had heavy consequences for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to him, insecurity, displacement and economic difficulties are among the consequences the province has suffered in recent years.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lies along the Afghan border, and its crossings are considered important routes for trade and movement between the two countries. Any disruption along these routes usually has a direct impact on economic activity and the livelihoods of people in border areas.
