QUETTA: Border authorities allowed over 70 Afghan nationals, including women and children, with passports and visas to cross into Afghanistan from the Friendship Gate at the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman on Saturday.

It was the first movement in nine days since the closure of the Chaman border.

“A group of 74 Afghans who were staying in Pakistan with legal documents, including visas and passports, crossed into Afghanistan,” a senior official posted at the Chaman border told Dawn.

“No one is allowed to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan even if they have travelling documents,” sources said, adding that the government had not taken any decision about the re-opening of the border with Afghanistan and it would remain closed for an indefinite period due to security concerns.

Patients in serious condition were allowed to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan from treatment, added the sources.

“Two serious patients suffering from cancer came to Pakistan from across the border,” a Pakistani border official said, adding that patients suffering from ordinary diseases were not allowed to cross the border.

However, the Pak-Afghan border is completely closed to traffic.

Hundreds of long body trucks and other vehicles involved in transit of trade and Nato supplies for US troops stationed in Afghanistan are stuck at both sides of the border and will not be allowed to move until further notice.

The border authorities imposed Section 144 of the criminal procedure code at the border area to restrict movement and a shoot-on-sight order was issued in case of illegal crossing into or out of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017