Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison - VI
Faizullah Khan was detained by Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province in April 2014.
Part - 6: (Intriguing account of a Pakistani journalist captured in Afghanistan for interview of Taliban leadership)
Read Part - 5 here: Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison - V
Imran started to walk and I followed him. “In Afghanistan traffic moves on American style whereas in Pakistan it goes according to British way,” he explained the difference to me. “Our paths will also be changed like this when we will cross the border,” he said.
I was out of the boundaries of Pakistan and had entered Afghanistan. A tall heighted police official was standing at the gate. Our eyes met but he said nothing to me. This phase was accomplished well. Some more officials were standing in the way but they neither searched us nor asked any question.
Imran also contacted Ehsanullah Ehsan who spoke to me, “We welcome you in Afghanistan. A second car has been arranged for you. Imran will hand you over to the next guide through whom you will reach us.”
We had reached the bus station from where buses for Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandhar, Khost and Mizar Sharif including many other areas were available.
The weather was quite hot as the sun was blazing with great intensity and I was feeling severe thirst. We had already finished juice and water on our way and were left with nothing.
Imran also contacted Ehsanullah Ehsan who spoke to me, “We welcome you in Afghanistan. A second car has been arranged for you. Imran will hand you over to the next guide through whom you will reach us.”
After sometime Imran reached the car in which I had to travel alone. Imran told me that he was only responsible to convey me here safely and hand over to the next guide, which he had fulfilled.
The second guide was standing with a red Corolla. He was a physically strong Afghan man between 30-35 year. His sun burnt colour was telling that he is addicted to hard labour.
I took a long breath of relief. The second difficult phase has also passed effortlessly. But there was still a dangerous checkpoint called the Red Town Bridge.
The second guide served us with cold drinks on the station. Imran left me there and bid farewell.
I sat on the front seat of the car. I saw the police officials searching for suspicious people when our vehicle came on the main road. The situation was not in my favour in any way. “I think I should sit on the backseat,” I said to the driver. “Yes, I was thinking the same. I can sense danger ahead. You sit back and in the meanwhile I gather some more people from the station so that the police can be handled without problems.”
After some time two passengers sat back and one on the front seat. The driver played a Pushto music CD in his car on seeing the police. We easily crossed the police checkpost. They glanced at us and hinted to go ahead without saying any word.
I took a long breath of relief. The second difficult phase has also passed effortlessly. But there was still a dangerous checkpoint called the Red Town Bridge.
Read the Urdu version here: Five months in Jalalabad prison
