Ghulam Khan is a town in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Ghulam Khan is on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is the third most important border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, after Chaman and Torkham. It Connects Khost, Afghanistan, to Bannu, Pakistan.
Despite being an important border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it has witnessed worse situations in the past. Terrorists used to travel from this border crossing. For a long time, smugglers were using this route for their illegal activities. After the Pak Army operation Zarb-e-Azab all the terror elements were eliminated and the border fencing helped security forces in taking control over this region. Pakistan Army and Civil Administration put efforts into curbing security challenges and controlling smuggling on the border. Also, the fencing over the border helps security forces in maintaining peace in the region.
Challenges for Civil Authorities on the Ghulam Khan Border
The assistant commissioner Miran Shah stated in a TV report that after the fencing of the Afghan border, the tribes are dispersed, some are living in Ghulam Khan town while others are on Afghan Soil. This initially became a challenge but with the help of the Pak Army and the civil authorities, they are issuing return border passes to the civilians. Pakistan is keeping traveler’s data and they are trying their best to smooth the process of border passing with the help of the Pak army.
Law and order situation at Ghulam Khan Border.
The Assistant Commissioner further said, that after the operation of Zarb-e-Azab, the Pak army eliminated all terror elements which resulted in an improved Law and order situation. People freely move here, and even media channels occasionally visit this part of the Pak-Afghan Border.
Pakistan’s efforts in curbing drug smuggling over the Border.
Wisaal Khan who is working with Anti-Narcotics Forces (ANF), stated that currently, the situation is better as even the Afghan government is taking strict action against the cultivation of different plants used in drugs. Which ultimately improves the situation here. Furthermore, he recalled that previously we have witnessed huge drug consignments smuggled in the past. But as of now here on the Border the civil Forces and Military forces are jointly controlling the situation.
Health Facilities at the Border
While talking to the paramedic’s Staff they said, the Staff is making sure to provide all medical facilities to the people of this region. They are carrying out a polio eradication program and making sure anyone crossing to Pakistan or Afghanistan is properly vaccinated. Additionally, the Staff stated that in the past terrorists entered Pakistan by presenting themselves as ill and claiming that they came for treatment in different cities of Pakistan. But after the establishment of these hospitals now such activities are controlled as they are initially tested at the border hospital facility.
Afghan national expressed his emotions who having crossed the border for the better treatment of his mother’s illness and said that they (Afghan nationals) are happy with the Pakistan government as they are facilitating the Afghan nationals.
The registration and scrutiny process over the border.
The authorities at the border responsible for scrutiny of the people crossing the border say that when someone crosses the border the authorities first check their records. After checking the record if someone is not registered in their database, the authority takes all required documents from the travelers and registers the persons in the Pakistani database. Further, if the person travels back to Pakistan in the future the authorities put his data in the system to check whether the person is coming with the legal documents.
The establishment of the National Logistic Center at Ghulam Khan Border.
Good transporters are satisfied with the administration of Pakistan the said that they are happy with the government’s actions of eliminating terrorists from this border as previously they had to take a longer route. At that time terrorists used this route for actions against Pakistan but after the successful elimination of terror elements from the border they could easily and more securely transport their trucks from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Furthermore, the government has smooth the clearance process, which helps drivers to reach their destination timely.
Conclusion:
In Conclusion, the law and order situation at the Ghulam Khan Border is stabilized. Consistent struggles from the Pak army made it possible to neutralize all terror elements from the border. Which eventually helped improve the law and order situation at the border. Health facilities are improved and the competent authority has established a hospital at the border which not only treats local people of Ghulam Khan town but also it scrutinizes travelers from Afghanistan. In the past, Pakistan has witnessed a lot of terrorists entering Pakistan by presenting themselves as ill, and later on they were found involved in terror activities. Additionally, the schools are safe and populated, where girls are in more numbers than boys. And the students there are provided with formal education. Furthermore, NLC is also playing an important role in curbing smuggling activities as in the past smuggling was on the surge.
