By Ajmal Kakar
Despite enduring freezing temperatures and now facing scorching heat, thousands continue their sit-in, locally known as “Parlat,”. As the sit-in at the Chaman border enters its 270th day, it becomes increasingly evident that the Pakistani government’s decision to revoke the century-old Easement Rights at the Spin Boldak crossing is having devastating consequences for local communities. This protest “Parlat,” underscores the severe impact of this policy shift on cross-border trade and the livelihoods of thousands of small traders.
In October 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government unilaterally ended Easement Rights, which had historically allowed Pakistani nationals in Chaman and Afghan nationals in Spin Boldak to cross the border freely without the need for passports or visas. This arrangement facilitated not only trade and travel but also maintained social and familial connections for communities straddling the Durand Line. However, the national apex committee comprising civil and military officials decided last year that only those with valid passports and visas would be allowed to cross the Chaman border crossing, which many of the protestors believe would severely impact cross border trade and the livelihoods of small traders in the region, specifically in Chaman.
This visa regim resulted in historic large protest “Parlat”, in which the local traders, political leaders, lagaries, civil and human right activists participated and raise their voice to accept the demands of Parlat. During a visit to the Parlat committee in February 2024, led by Ghuassullah (Chairman Lagari Ethihad) and Sadiq Khan (Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Chaman), the desperation and frustration were palpable. “We are protesting in this harsh weather for the past four months against the implementation of the passport and visa policy at Chaman border and for the reversal of the century-old Easement Rights,” they stated. Their demands include the abolition of passport and visa requirements for local residents, the restoration of welfare packages for small traders, and an end to the crackdown on Afghan refugees.
The government’s decision to enforce passport and visa requirements at the Chaman border disregards the unique historical, social, and economic context of this region. As one participant recounted the history of Chaman border crossing as expressed; before the partition, there were no borders, and people would travel free riding donkeys and camels. Even after the partition movement across the border remained relatively unrestricted on bikes, cars etc. However, in 2001 or 2002 the government build gates on the border but the movement of people and goods were not restricted. In last few decades the government started restricting it. Initially, the government dug trench on border to restrict movement and later fenced it. And, in 2005 or 2006 CNIC was made compulsory. At the time of fencing back in 2016, our villages, farms, mosques and graveyards were divided in half. But we accepted government’s decision and cooperated with them. The authorities promised us that they would provide us with gates on every 5 kms. However, when the fencing got completed, they sealed the border and brought all the population on both sides to trade and move through single gate. All side passages are there but are closed for the trade. Thus, the introduction of “Easement Right” and “Fencing of the Border” in 2016 have progressively tightened control, culminating in the current crisis.
Large traders have already shifted their business operations and goods movement through the Noshki/Chaghi border. It’s the poor, with limited resources, who are struggling the most. Because, they don’t generate enough extortion money for the authorities. A farmer among the participants stated that; the closure of the border has had dire economic repercussions. The livelihoods of about 1.1 million people in Chaman, majority of whom own assets across the border, are now at risk. With approximately 5,500 tube wells operated by Chaman residents in Afghanistan, each worth about 2 million PKR, the restrictions on movement have brought cross-border agricultural activities to a standstill. Farmers are unable to tend to their lands, repair their solar panels, or procure fertilizers from Pakistan. How can we operate these farms, holding a passport, when we have to go back and forth thrice a day? A passport would get full in a month and then we would have wait for next 2 to 3 months to get a new one. And, one respondent from Chaman stated that; Passport office is often short of printing paper and new passports printing gets delayed. Moreover, getting official identification documents is super hard due to extreme scrutiny and therefore furthers corruption rates. Similarly, one of the businessmen stated that, the border is like a city and Chaman as a town. Most of the people operate their business in Wesh Mandi (Afghanistan side of the border).
Furthermore, the broader economic impact cannot be ignored. The Chaman district lacks industrial infrastructure, and border trade is the primary source of income for majority of the population. The closure has exacerbated unemployment and poverty, leading to a surge in crime and even cases of suicide were reported by locals. Based on the number of lagaries including 12000 males, around100 elderly women and 700 children, the estimated financial loss (of exclusively lagaryan) due to joblessness over the past nine months stands at an astonishing 13.3 billion PKR. However, the complete cost of closing the border over 9 months is many times higher than the loss to Lagaryan. Along with economic implications, the closure of the border has adverse socioeconomic consequences. Additionally, our policy negligence led to loss of transit trade to Afghanistan, which is conducted today through Chabahar Iran.
On a monthly basis, the loss faced by these daily wage earners is approximately Rs 115,211. As a temporary measure, the government has started providing Rs20,000 per month to the affected unemployed youth under BISP, which only covers 17% of the loss. Consequently, this initiative will have a negligible impact. Furthermore, the sustainability of this government support under BISP remains uncertain. This initiative may also discourage economic activity and undermine the socioeconomic situation in the region. Unfortunately, there is not a single project for the Chaman district in the PSDP.
To sum up, both the provincial and federal governments’ stance on the Chaman border needs immediate reconsideration to avoid further losses and undesirable outcomes of ongoing Parlat. The government should implement a policy that respects the historical and cultural ties of the borderland communities. Moreover, the member chamber of commerce of Chaman district has proposed a policy solution involving the implementation of ongoing projects, including the Master Plan Chaman (which has the potential to employ around 2,000 daily wage earners), the International Trade Terminal Management System (ITTMS), and the Chaman Special Economic Zone under CPEC. Additionally, the solution includes establishing a Pak-Afghan Joint Market along the border instead of relying on the BISP initiative.
The Author is a Research Associate, at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad. He posts on X: @ajmalkakar34
