Chaman border reopens after two weeks

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday reopened the border crossing at Chaman following successful negotiations, Express News reported.

"The Friendship Gate is set to reopen on September 1 for public," a Frontier Corps (FC) spokesperson said after the meeting between the two sides on Wednesday.



The Chaman border was shut on August 18 after a large number of Afghans flung stones at the Friendship Gate, smashing windowpanes of several government departments and desecrating the Pakistani flag.

Reports suggested the Afghans were incensed by demonstrations in Balochistan sparked by Indian premier Narendra Modi’s speech on August 15 – India’s Independence Day – showing their support to the neighbouring country.



Trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan came to a halt after the shutdown of the border gate as vehicles and trucks wanting to resume the operation were seen standing idle near the gate.

Pakistani and Afghan border authorities held four flag meetings to resolve the impasse. The latter demanded that the border should be reopened unconditionally while the former refused to budge till an apology was tendered for provoking their compatriots into disrespecting the Pakistani flag.