QUETTA: Pakistan has reopened its border with Afghanistan in the southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Monday, more than a week after it was closed because of the killing of a Pakistani soldier.
The soldier of Pakistan’s Frontier Corps paramilitary force died in a shooting from the Afghan side on November 13, leading Pakistani authorities to indefinitely close the Chaman border crossing, the most important border point for trade between the two countries after Torkham in Pakistans’ mountainous northwest.
The decision to reopen the border crossing, which connects with Spin Boldak district in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, was made after multiple meetings of Pakistan’s border liaison committee, comprising officials of Pakistan Army and district administration as well as tribal elders, with Taliban border officials.
“During various rounds of talks, the Afghan government expressed grief over the killing of Pakistani border guard and assured of averting these attacks in future,” Chaman Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed Zehri said at a press conference.
“After this, Pakistan’s border liaison committee has decided to reopen the border for all trade and pedestrian movement through Pak-Afghan Friendship Gate.”
Zehri said no one would be allowed to disturb friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Afghans cross into Pakistan every day for trade, medical treatment, work or to meet relatives, who have taken refuge in various Pakistani cities. Most Pakistanis go to the other side of the border for business transactions.
The unruly frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan has seen similar shooting incidents in the past at Chaman, Torkham and other border crossings.
The Afghan government said the attack was an attempt by a “third party” to disturb peaceful relations between the two countries.
“The Taliban government has a clear policy toward all neighboring countries and has been working with all neighbors in a very conducive manner,” Hajji Zaid, a spokesman for the Kandahar governor, told Arab News.
“We will not allow any third party within or outside Afghanistan to disturb our relations with any neighboring country, particularly Pakistan.”
He said Taliban officials had assured the Pakistani government that all efforts were being made to arrest the suspect, who had killed the Pakistani border guard.
The Chaman border crossing remained close for eight consecutive days, causing heavy losses to traders and stranding thousands of people on both sides.
Traders and business community on Monday welcomed Pakistan’s decision to reopen the border crossing.
