Pakistan-Afghanistan border reopens after six days

Pakistan-Afghanistan border was on Saturday opened for travellers after six days of tensions and curfew owing to deadly clashes between the two countries following the construction of a gate on the Pakistani side to control cross-border movement. Pakistan security forces greeted the consensus over the issue by forwarding pleasantries, including dates and mangoes to Afghan troops.

Long queues of vehicles and thousands of passerbys were stranded since Sunday night after Afghanistan opened fire claiming lives of Major Ali Jawad Changezi, three Afghan policemen and injuring over 10.

Curfew was imposed in Landi Kotal market and surrounding areas to protect civilians who were in the crosshairs of shelling by Afghan troops. “The Torkham border reopened around 6 this morning after around five days of closure,” Mohammed Ayub Hussain Khil, border police chief in eastern Afghanistan, said. “Everyday huge crowds of Afghans used to cross the border for medical purposes, but now they are only allowing people with visas and passports,” he said.

The spokesman for the governor of the Afghan province of Nangarhar, Ataullah Khogyani, confirmed the reopening of the border saying it happened after “days of negotiations” between the two sides.

A Pakistani official said that the border had reopened and “the construction work on the gate has also resumed”. Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman posted a message on Twitter saying: “Only passport holders allowed from Afghan side.” The new requirement will affect thousands of people who formerly crossed the busy border post without travel documents.

Meanwhile, an Afghan delegation led by deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai would visit Islamabad on Monday.

According to the foreign ministry spokesman here, the delegation would discuss the issues pertaining to Torkham border crossing and border management. “Pakistan welcomes the visit and looks forward to meaningful deliberations through a constructive engagement between the two sides,” he said.

The visit comes in response to invitation by advisor to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz to the Afghan national security adviser and foreign minister to visit Pakistan.

Stranded people moved towards their destination after the development surfaced. Pakistan army retaliated and gave a befitting response however, civil leadership of both the countries agreed that the issue must be resolved through talks. The army had started building a gate some 37 metres within Pakistan’s territory to maintain a check on the travellers and end movement of banned outfits’ operatives in Pakistan through Torkham. Afghanistan claimed that the construction was against some understandings between the two sides. Ambassadors of the both the countries were summoned and lodged protests with. However, third round of flag meeting was successful after which the border was opened. Pakistan Army has declared possession of identity documents compulsory to cross the border. Sources said construction of gate would continue. Meanwhile, an Afghan delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai would visit Islamabad on Monday. According to the foreign ministry spokesman here, the delegation would discuss the issues pertaining to Torkham border crossing and border management. “Pakistan welcomes the visit and looks forward to meaningful deliberations through a constructive engagement between the two sides with a view to promote bilateral relations as well as peace and stability of our two countries, and the region,” he said. The visit comes in response to invitation by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to the Afghan national security adviser and foreign minister to visit Pakistan.