MIRANSHAH: Once a hotbed of terrorism and a centre of poppy cultivation, North Waziristan Agency (NWA) is set to transform into a hub of regional and trans-regional trade as Ghulam Khan border crossing is about to be inaugurated next month. Ghulam Khan trade route has the capability to become a major trade link with central Asia and Russia via Afghanistan as this route passes through comparatively stable areas of Afghanistan which are largely under control of Afghan Taliban. Passing through Khost, this route passes through areas which are away from areas like Torkhum-Kabul trade route which pass through Jalalabad’s Nangerhar district which is under influence of splinter groups of Afghan Taliban and Islamic State who are at each others throats for control of trade route. “Ghulam Khan Crossing would be third biggest trade route between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Chaman and Torkhum. Asked about security measures adopted at Ghulam Khan crossing, the official said state of the art gadgets were being installed at the crossing.

Source: Pakistan Today February 10, 2018 12:32 UTC