QUETTA: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to re-open the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border on Sept 1, Frontier Corps Spokesman Khan Wasay told DawnNews.

The border was closed on Aug 18 after Afghan protesters attacked the gate and set the Pakistani flag on fire.

Wasay said that Pakistani and Afghan border officials met at the Friendship Gate and after successful negotiations, agreed to reopen the border starting tomorrow.

Trade activities between the two countries had come to a standstill following closure of the border. Long queues of trucks and vehicles were visible as drivers waited desperately the gate to reopen.

Four meetings were already held between the two countries but yielded no results. However, during yesterday's flag meeting, Afghan authorities admitted that there was no justification for the unprovoked protest, and claimed that some elements had played a negative role to foment differences between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to improve cooperation and coordination between border guards in order to avoid untoward incidents in the future.

Every day between 10,000 and 15,000 Pakistani and Afghan traders cross into Chaman and Vesh Mandi in connection with their business in the border towns.