Pakistan to open border with Afghanistan for two days

Stranded Pakistanis will also be facilitated to return

ISLAMABAD: Authorities have decided to open the sealed Pak-Afghan border crossings for two days in order to facilitate nationals of both the countries.

“In order to provide an opportunity to those nationals of Afghanistan who had come to Pakistan on valid visas and wish to return to their country, the Government of Pakistan has decided to open the border crossings at Torkham and Chaman on March 7 and 8,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Monday.

The crossing points, the Foreign Office added, will also be opened for those Pakistani nationals who went to Afghanistan on valid visas and wish to return to Pakistan. The announcement came following numerous requests by the Afghan authorities to reopen the border saying it was creating a humanitarian crisis. The crossing points were sealed after a series of bomb blasts and suicide attacks rocked the country killing over 100 people last month. Pakistan said Afghanistan based militants were involved in carrying out the attacks.

The decision was conveyed by Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to the Afghan ambassador by telephone. All concerned at the two crossing points have also been informed.  —INP

Mehtab Haider adds: A Customs official posted at Torkham border told The News that Army officials allowed entry and exit of passengers only for next two days and this opening up of border was not meant for goods related to exports or imports.

“We have only allowed patients to cross borders on the basis of valid documents,” he added. Thousands of trucks are stuck up on both sides as 600 containers having transit goods were cleared from Karachi port but stranded on its way to Torkham as this border was closed down in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in different parts of Pakistan in recent weeks.