Landi Kotal
Ten Afghan nationals were deported to their country on Saturday after they were suspected to have developed coronavirus-like symptoms. The Khyber administration at the Pakistan-Afghan Torkham border sent back these people but declined to comment whether they were tested positive for the virus.
Pakistan-Afghan border at Torkham crossing will remain shut down from Sunday.
A border official said the Afghan nationals who had recently been to China come to Pakistan via the Torkham border. They were having health issues since the past few weeks and were staying with the locals for trade purposes.
“They [Afghan nationals] were scanned and found to have symptoms [of coronavirus] after which they were deported immediately as a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of the virus in Pakistan.
“We also informed the Afghan officials about the issue and they accepted that there was a communication gap between the officials at Torkham border, provincial health department and Afghan authorities as they have not taken proper health measures on the other side of the border,” he added.
The official said until March 16 the Afghan nationals can cross the border but after the said date no one will be allowed to commute, while the trade activities will also be suspended.
