Bab-e-Dosti won’t be opened till Pak reservations addressed: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday that the Bab-e-Dosti border at Chaman between Pakistan and Afghanistan will not be opened till the Afghan government addresses Pakistan’s reservations.

Sartaj Aziz said this in a meeting with Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal at the Foreign Office on Tuesday. During the meeting, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan were also discussed in detail. Sartaj Aziz also said the ambassador should have raised problems of the Afghan government with Pakistan. He said the Afghan forces targeted innocent citizens during the Chaman firing incident. 

A private TV channel quoting sources reported that the ambassador later conveyed Pakistan’s reservations to the Afghan government.  On Monday, Sartaj Aziz had condemned the Chaman incident and called it unfortunate while addressing a news conference at the Foreign Office. He also remarked that Pakistan responded to the firing from across the border. 

On May 5, at least 11 people were martyred and 46 injured when Afghan border forces opened fire on FC Balochistan soldiers deployed for security of census team. In response, the gate between both the countries on the Chaman border Bab-e-Dosti was closed following firing from the Afghan border police.