Islamabad: The main border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Chaman area of Balochistan province was reopened on Saturday after being closed since May 5 following cross-border clashes between security forces of the two countries.
Known as Bab-e-Dosti (friendship gate), the crossing was reopened on humanitarian grounds in light of fasting month of Ramadan and on the request of Afghan authorities, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.
Trading and pedestrian traffic resumed on the border following the announcement.
The Bab-e-Dosti was closed on May 5 after Afghan border forces fired on Frontier Corps Balochistan soldiers deployed for the security of a census team.
As many as 11 people were killed and 46 injured in the incident on the Pakistani side. Later, Pakistani officials said dozens of Afghan police personnel were killed in retaliatory fire but the figure was dismissed by the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan.
“After the Chaman incident, Pakistan has its area under effective control having pushed back Afghan border police troops,” ISPR statement said.
Separately, the foreign affairs ministry here said senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China held a first round of trilateral cooperation dialogue in Beijing on Saturday, agreeing to promote practical measures, according to a press release issued by the Pakistani foreign ministry.
The three sides stressed that trilateral cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan and China “is conducive to peace, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region,” the ministry said.
They appreciated the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its benefits for promoting regional connectivity and agreed to advance practical cooperation in various areas so as to promote mutual benefit and regional economic integration under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The three countries decided to make the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Practical Cooperation Dialogue a regular forum.
