Pak-Afghan border, Bab-e-Dosti, at Chaman has been opened for light traffic in respect of Ramzan on humanitarian bases after 22-day closure, ISPR said in a press release.
“The decision was taken after a meeting between Frontier Core (FC) and tribal leaders of Chaman,” FC commandant Colonel Usman told media.
On May 5, 2017, Afghan security forces opened fire at Pakistani census teams on Chaman border. Pakistani forces also responded. The cross using heave arms caused killing at least 15 people including eight civilians and one FC soldier on Pakistani side.
Later, Pakistani officials claimed dozens of Afghan security personnel were killed in retaliatory fire but the figure was dismissed by the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan.
Eight of the dead Pakistanis were civilians while one soldier of Frontier Corps were also martyred in the clash that only subsided late afternoon.
Tensions between both the countries have resulted in the temporary closure of the gate in the past as well.
Pak Afghan border was also closed on February 16, after a bomb ripped through a shrine in interior Sindh leaving at least 80 people dead and it was reopened after 18 days only for travellers on foot, and not for vehicles.
After the most recent closure of the Chaman border, the voluntary return of Afghan refugees under the UNHCR scheme was also halted. Moreover, the scores of people who cross the border daily for personal and business visits were also unable to cross the border. However, the Pakistani government later allowed Afghan nationals holding valid passports and visas, as well as those needing urgent medical attention, to cross the border.
