Pak-Afghan border near Chaman reopens for trade

The border was closed as clashes had erupted over border closure earlier

CHAMAN:

The Pak-Afghan border crossing at Chaman reopened for trade on Wednesday,  after it was closed in late July following a clash that erupted over border closure earlier.

The border was reopened after talks with the Pak-Afghan border government committee and other relevant parties. However, pedestrian traffic on the border continues to remain suspended.

On July 30, at least two people were killed and 20 injured after shots were fired on protesters who stormed a quarantine centre at the border gate over not being allowed to enter the neighbouring country.

A woman was among those slain in the incident as protesters set ablaze the quarantine centre, set up along the Pak-Afghan Bab-e-Dosti gate, for Covid-19 patients.

Authorities said the woman's body and that of a man was taken to the Chaman Civil Hospital along with those injured.

A day after the incident occurred, Pakistan said that the firing incident at its border with Afghanistan in Chaman, which resulted in casualties, was an act of self-defence to protect the local population.

People were protesting against the closure of the Chaman border due to Covid-19 as they had to cross into Afghanistan to celebrate Eidul Azha. However, according to the Foreign Office, people gathered for this purpose were deliberately targeted by Afghan forces for incomprehensible reasons.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, "It is reiterated that the Pakistani force did not open fire first and responded in self-defence only."

On August 4, Pakistani officials opened the Pak-Afghan border for a day as a gesture of goodwill. A large number of people transited through the area as soon as the border reopened.