Afghan families enter Pakistan across land border

(26 Aug 2021) Dozens of Afghan people continued entering Pakistan via the Islamic nation's southwestern Chaman and northwestern Torkham border on Thursday. Nasratullah Khan, who left his home in Jalalabad near Kabul in the north, said he came all the way to the Chaman border crossing because he thought it would be easier than at Torkham. "We thought we will cross this border easily but the situation here is also very bad," he said. But the number of Afghan people entering Pakistan through these land routes is steadily decreasing since earlier this week. Pakistan has said Afghans are being blocked by authorities in Afghanistan as the Taliban had announced amnesty for all. The country's key Torkham border in the northwest was also open but only Afghans having valid documents were being allowed to cross. Pakistan has said it will continue facilitating the evacuation of all foreigners, excluding Afghan people who are being blocked by the Taliban. Pakistan's prime minister on Thursday reiterated his call for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan to ensure peace and avoid an humanitarian crisis. Imran Khan made his comment during a meeting with David Beasley,  executive director of the United Nations World Food Program who met with him in Islamabad. According to a government statement, Khan called for a continued engagement of international community with Afghanistan, saying it was a "way forward to avert any humanitarian crisis and secure peace and stability in Afghanistan". Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...