Daily Times

QUETTA: The Chaman border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan will reopen on Thursday after thirteen days of closure.

According to sources, the decision has been taken after successful talks between the Pakistan and Afghan authorities. The border crossing, also known as Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate), was closed on August 18 after a large number of Afghan nationals, celebrating the anniversary of their country’s independence, gathered near the border gate and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.

The Afghan protestors also started pelting stones at the gate and burned Pakistani flag. Every day between 10,000 and 15,000 Pakistani and Afghan traders cross into Chaman in Balochistan and Vesh Mandi in Kandhar province of Afghanistan.

Earlier in June, Pakistan shut Torkham border, a main border crossing with Afghanistan following clashes between the two sides over Pakistan’s construction of a gate to curb illegal cross-border movement.

The gate was reopened few days later and all those carrying valid travel documents are now being allowed to cross Torkham border. Afghanistan disputes the border between the two countries, known as the Durand line, which dates back to colonial times.