Karakuram Highway closed by protesters near Chilas, Diamer
Chilas, February 20: The Karakuram Highway has been blocked by protesters since yesterday at a place called Thor, located in Diamer District, South of Chilas, the district headquarters.
The protesters are residents of Thor Valley who have agitating against the tribes of Harban Valley, some of whom have allegedly stolen around 900 sheep and goat belonging to the residents of Thor. It is pertinent to note that Harban and Thor are located in the area where the Diamer-Bhasha dam is being constructed. The border in this part of the region is disputed between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The protesters are also demanding resolution of the border dispute, to settle the issue once and for all.
They have threatened to keep the road blocked indefinitely, till resolution of the border dispute. A join commission and Jirga formed in the past to resolve the issue have not been able to make any significant progress.
Meanwhile, passengers are stuck on the Karakuram Highway in buses, coasters, vans and smaller vehicles.
With reporting by Asad Ullah
