ISLAMABAD: The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) welcomed on Thursday Pakistan's decision to ease restrictions at border crossings with Afghanistan to facilitate the movement of people and goods.

As Afghanistan sinks deeper into economic crisis following the Taliban takeover in mid-August, the recent closure of the Chaman border crossing that links the Balochistan province of Pakistan with the Afghan province of Kandahar, and interruptions to traffic at Torkham in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as well as the suspension of Pakistan Airlines flights from Kabul, have left Afghanistan largely cut off.

Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, announced last week that the Torkham border crossing, the largest border terminal between the two neighboring countries, would remain open for pedestrians 12 hours a day.

The Chaman border point was briefly opened on Sunday night and people from both sides were allowed to cross over mainly on medical grounds. As it was closed again, Pakistani officials said the issue was on the Afghan side and they expected it to be resolved within the next few days.

"UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the recent announcement by Pakistani authorities to ease the movement of people and goods through official border points with Afghanistan," the UN agency said in a statement. "Disruptions have left many Afghans, including women, children and those needing urgent medical attention, stranded for weeks at the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing between the two countries."

"The new steps help reduce fears and risks that many will be pushed into the hands of human smugglers and traffickers, with deadly consequences, when official cross-border channels are shut."  

It also appealed to the international community to urgently increase financial contributions to displaced Afghans both within and outside the country, as they will desperately require support to survive the coming winter.

"Increased international support is urgently needed to allow continued protection for more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees already in Pakistan," UNHCR said.

Pakistan is the third largest refugee-hosting country after Turkey and Colombia and hosts 1.4 million registered refugees from neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. The actual number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is estimated by the government to be even 3.5 million.