July 29, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18,1423

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LANDI KOTAL, July 28: After a closure of over 36 hours, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was opened on Sunday afternoon following a series of negotiations between senior officials of the two countries at Torkham checkpoint.

Pakistan’s consul general in Jalalabad, Ikramullah Mahsood, along with other senior officials of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department, held talks with Gen Syed Agha, the commander of Afghan forces at Torkham, to resolve the row, apparently developed over the deportation of about 40 displaced Afghans, an official said.

Officials said after negotiations both sides agreed to open the Torkham gate for traffic and the issue would be discussed at a high level to chalk out a permanent solution.

Differences developed between the border security forces of the two countries when Pakistan authorities tried to deport some 40 displaced people following which the Afghan authorities closed the Torkham check-post on Saturday.

After the fall of the Taliban regime, the Afghan transition government is locked in a dispute with the Pakistani authorities over the deportation of illegal immigrants. Pakistan complains that people cross into its territory from Afghanistan through unfrequented routes. Islamabad has asked its forces to tighten security and check infiltration.