By TSB Team

Once again Chaman town is experiencing unrest and violence as the local protesters clashed with the police resulting in injuries to 17 security personnel and 23 protesters. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the enraged protesters. 56 protesters were arrested (6 June).  

The people of the area have been protesting the government’s decision to restrict border crossings at Chaman to individuals with valid passports and visas. Previously, Pakistanis and Afghans could cross by showing their respective identity cards.

The recent incident was sparked by the arrest of the leaders of a months-long sit-in, prompting the protesters to attack government buildings and installations, demanding their immediate release. The turmoil spread across the border town, with rallies and demonstrations effectively shutting down the city.  Clashes began when protesters attempted to block major roads, including the national highway linking Quetta with Kandahar, causing significant traffic disruptions. The local administration, supported by police, Levies, and Frontier Corps personnel, responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowds and clear the barricades.

Police were constrained to take harsh measures to control the charges protesters when they targeted the Deputy Commissioner Office complex, hurling stones and forcibly closing shops along Mall Road and other business centers. Some shopkeepers were reportedly beaten with sticks. Protesters also disrupted communication systems and attempted to cut power supplies to the Frontier Corps fort. They also pelted stones at the FC headquarters in Chaman. At this juncture 17 security personnel were injured, with one policeman sustaining a bullet wound to the hand. Sources reported that over 20 protesters were injured by rubber bullets during the clashes and were treated at the district hospital in Chaman, with six of them later transferred to Quetta for further treatment.

By late evening, tribal elders and political leaders, led by Mufti Qasim and Muhammad Hasan, mediated negotiations with Chaman Deputy Commissioner Athar Abbas Raja, resulting in the dispersal of protesters and a return to normalcy.

However, protest leader Molvi Abdul Manan vowed to continue demonstrations until the release of their seven leaders arrested by Levies and transferred to Quetta Jail. He demanded the immediate release of all individuals detained over the past two days.

The government is adamant to impose visa regime for Chaman border crossers for valid reasons. There have been persistent incidents of terrorists sneaking into Pakistan from Afghanistan to carry out terrorist incidents. Even the vehicle used to attack Chinese at Bisham was turned into a bomb with IEDs in Afghanistan and brought to Pakistan. These measures also aim at curbing the smuggling. The interest groups are badly hurt, and they instigate people to carry out protests.

The government had realized that the livelihoods of people were hit by the new visa regime, so it opened border market at Chaman and also started paying Rs 20000/- per person to daily wagers as compensation. But the protests have continued since January 2024. The smugglers, their supporters and beneficiaries are behind this unrest. The government of Pakistan should not succumb to their undue pressure. Rather more opportunities of livelihood can be created in Chaman so that people don’t have to cross the border. Meanwhile, negotiations with the protesters should continue. Afghanistan’s Taliban Government had also resented the new measures at the border but didn’t do much to control the terrorists and illegal border-crossers which had prompted Pakistan to control the traffic at the Chaman border. Pakistan should also engage the Afghan authorities into talks for better relations and peaceful environment at Chaman border.

In light of the ongoing protests and uncertainty in Chaman, the Balochistan government has decided to open the Badini border crossing at the Pakistan-Afghan border in Qila Saifullah district for trade with Afghanistan. An official notification issued on 5 June indicated that while the Badini crossing has been used for repatriating illegal foreign nationals, it is yet to be fully utilized for trade purposes. The notification instructed the chief collector of Balochistan Customs and the FIA’s provincial director to take concrete measures to facilitate this initiative.