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Afghan Body Handed Over at Torkham After Pakistan Pauses Anti-Taliban Op

The body of an Afghan national was handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border by a delegation of local tribal elders. This follows Pakistan's announcement of a temporary pause in Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, citing Eid-ul-Fitr and requests from other Islamic nations. The deceased was identified as a daily wage labourer, but the handover was delayed due to extended consultations among Afghan officials. The tribal elders persisted in their efforts, finally succeeding in the transfer on humanitarian grounds despite the body's advanced state of decomposition.

Key Points: Body Handed Over at Torkham After Op Ghazab Lil-Haq Pause

  • Body retrieved after Op Ghazab Lil-Haq pause
  • Handover by tribal elders
  • Deceased was Afghan labourer
  • Delayed due to consultations
  • Advanced decomposition state
2 min read

Afghan national's body at Torkham handed over after pause in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

Tribal elders retrieve and transfer an Afghan national's body at Torkham border following a temporary pause in Pakistan's Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq.

"Our requests were finally accepted... on purely humanitarian grounds. - Shah Khalid"

Khyber, March 20

The body of an Afghan national, which had been lying at Zero Point along the Torkham border for several days, was handed over to Afghan authorities on Thursday by a delegation of local tribal elders, Dawn reported.

The development comes a day after Pakistan announced a "temporary pause" in its ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban, citing Eid-ul-Fitr and requests from "brotherly Islamic countries".

According to Dawn, local residents had initially spotted the body and recorded videos, later informing security officials about the situation.

A group of tribal elders -- including Malak Tajuddin, Mufti Ejaz, Shah Khalid, Qari Jihad Shah, Qari Nazeem Gul and Saeed Khan -- subsequently visited the Torkham border to retrieve the remains, Dawn reported.

Speaking to Dawn, Shah Khalid said the delegation had maintained contact with Pakistani security officials and Afghan representatives over the past week despite the prevailing security challenges.

He said Afghan authorities had confirmed on March 13 that the deceased was an Afghan national working as a daily wage labourer. However, the retrieval was delayed due to extended consultations among Afghan officials.

Khalid noted that the elders persisted in their efforts, urging authorities on both sides to facilitate the recovery and burial of the body without further delay, as per Dawn.

According to Dawn, he said that with a "temporary pause" in Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, they made efforts again, demanding that local authorities allow them to retrieve the body and hand it over to the authorities in Afghan.

"Our requests were finally accepted, and we were allowed to retrieve the body and hand it over to Afghan authorities on purely humanitarian grounds," he added.

He further said the body was in an advanced state of decomposition, which made it difficult for the delegation to place it in a coffin during the transfer, Dawn reported.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
This is heartbreaking. A daily wage labourer, just trying to earn a living, meets such a tragic end. It highlights the human cost of the instability in the region. The "temporary pause" for Eid allowed this humanitarian act to finally happen. We must never lose sight of our shared humanity, especially with our neighbours.
A
Aman W
While I appreciate the eventual humanitarian gesture, the question remains: why did it take so long? The body was identified on March 13th. Bureaucratic delays and "extended consultations" should not come before a basic duty like this. Our security forces have a tough job, but protocols for such situations need to be more sensitive and swift.
M
Michael C
Reading this from an international perspective, it's a stark reminder of the complex realities on the Pakistan-Afghan border. The involvement of local tribal elders as intermediaries is a crucial, often overlooked, aspect of conflict resolution in the region. Their role is vital for maintaining even a thread of humanity during operations.
P
Priyanka N
The mention of "brotherly Islamic countries" requesting the pause is significant. It shows external diplomatic pressure can sometimes create windows for compassion. The image of elders struggling with a decomposed body is haunting. May the soul rest in peace, and may his family find some closure.

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