Pakistan, in order to hide its inefficiency in controlling the terror group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose militants have safe haven in the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has turned towards Afghans coming into Pakistan for treatment, the Afghan Diaspora Network reported.
Pakistan has recently tightened security measures and controls at the border crossings with Afghanistan since the TTP has increased terror attacks within Pakistan. There weren’t many restrictions on the movement along the Torkham border during the initial period of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. Afghans in need of medical treatment were able to move into Pakistan along with their attendants to visit hospitals in Peshawar. For Pakistan, the first two months of 2023 proved to be deadly, as major terror attacks claimed more than 100 lives. Both of these attacks have targeted the Pakistani security establishment and have been linked to the homegrown terror organisation Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to Pakistan, a spurt in terror cases is caused by the Taliban’s inaction in controlling the movement of militants linked with the TTP. As a consequence, Pakistan has unilaterally decided to restrict the movement of Afghans coming to Peshawar through the Torkham border, the Afghan Diaspora Network reported.
Traditionally, Afghan patients visited hospitals in Peshawar to receive treatment in general medicine, cardiology, gynaecology, and gastroenterology. This is despite the challenges of higher costs, language barriers, and accommodation problems. These hospitals charge more for Afghan patients than they do for Pakistanis. Afghan patients have also been reported to have been exploited by doctors and translators who charge high fees for laboratory tests, surgery, accommodation, and medication.
Despite these difficulties, Afghans have been visiting Peshawar due to the lack of such facilities in Afghan areas bordering KP. Until recently, Pakistani authorities manning the border has been tacitly allowing uncheckered movement of Afghans without any serious checks in-return for possible kickbacks as significant number of establishments in Peshawar was dependent on the income generated from these
patients.
