ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Saturday inaugurated the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing to increase trade and people-to-people exchanges, officials said.

The border crossing point between Rimdan in Iran’s southeastern Sistan province and Gabd in Pakistan’s Balochistan province is located about 120 kilometers from the Iranian port of Chabahar and 70 kilometers from Pakistan’s port of Gwadar.

“The purpose of this and other proposed border crossing points is to enhance people-to-people contacts and facilitate travel and trade between the two countries,” Pakistani foreign office spokesman Zahid Hafiz said during a press briefing on Friday.

“Opening of Gabd-Rimdan crossing point had been under discussion between Pakistan and Iran at various levels,” he said.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani military and civilian leaders, which reportedly also covered border issues.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Rahim Hayat Qureshi said in a tweet on Friday evening that the opening of Gabd-Rimdan was “historic” and the “first such opening after our independence.”

https://twitter.com/rahimhayat/status/1339943619285938183?s=20

Gabd-Rimdan becomes the second point on the 900-kilometer border between the two countries to facilitate trade and public movement, after the main crossing in Taftan.

Last year, Pakistan began fencing its border with Iran as part of its policy to enhance border security. 

In early December, the Pakistani army said that the border fence would be completed by December 2021.