QUETTA: Pakistan has closed its borders with Afghanistan at Chaman for two days in connection with Ashura security, while the Pakistan-Iran trade gate was also closed and travel permit issuance suspended on Thursday.

“The border was closed as part of a series of precautionary measures in response to the high security alert issued by intelligence agencies,” official sources said.

They said a heavy contingent of the Frontier Corps had been deployed along all frequent and infrequent routes to check all kinds of movement in the border areas. “No one will be allowed to cross the Pak-Afghan border during 9th and 10th of Muharram,” they said.

Trucks carrying Afghan transit goods and Nato supplies have to wait on either side of the border until the route is reopened.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iran have also closed Zero Point border crossing at Taftan to ensure peaceful observance of Ashura. “The Zero Point and the Trade Gate will remain closed for the next few days,” border security officials at Taftan said.

They said that all trading activities would remain suspended. Sources said that travel permits were also not being issued until further instructions, but that there would be no restrictions on pilgrims travelling with passports.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018