KHYBER: Entry of Afghan patients into Pakistan without proper visas and passports has been restricted at the Torkham border since last day due to security reasons.
An official said on Monday that border security officials restricted the entry of Afghan patients through the Torkham crossing, while Afghan pedestrians with proper visas and passports were allowed to cross the border into Pakistan.
Due to a cross-border firing incident at the Khar Lachi checkpoint last day, the border was closed for Afghan patients, a security official said.
On condition of anonymity, a health official at the Pak-Afghan Friendship Hospital, Torkham said that according to a government order, the entry of Afghan patients without visas has been banned since last day until further orders.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Pakistani government granted visa waivers to Afghan patients at the border, and according to a health official, 90 to 105 Afghan patients, along with one or two nurses, were allowed to cross into Pakistan for treatment each day. in the country.
According to the information, health officials at the Pak-Afghan Friendship Health Center could examine an Afghan patient’s medical history given by Afghan doctors at the border and then decide whether to send him or her back or refer him or her to city hospitals. in Pakistan.
After the Army Public School on 16 December 2015, the passport and visa policy at the Torkham border was made compulsory by accident; however, Afghan patients and drivers were exempted from proper visa documents.
