QUETTA: Pakistan has decided to reopen its border with Afghanistan at Chaman on Tuesday (today).

The decision was taken on Monday at a flag meeting of military commanders of the two countries held at the Friendship Gate on the Pak-Afghan border.

Pakistan closed this border on Thursday last after violent incidents in Chaman that claimed at least seven lives, including that of a woman, and left 31 others injured.

Commandant of Frontier Corps at Chaman Lt Col Salman, along with other officials concerned, represented Pakistan, while Col Sharif headed the Afghan delegation at the flag meeting.

Both sides submitted various proposals to resolve the issue.

Official sources said that the meeting, which continued for around two hours, reviewed the overall situation created as a result of clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces and unruly mob in Chaman.

A senior official said that the Afghan military officials insisted that the border should be open as it was on March 2 and both sides should allow not only pedestrians to cross the border but also vehicles carrying Afghan transit trade goods and other import and export items.

They pleaded that Afghan and Pakistani nationals who visit each other’s country daily should be allowed to cross the border by showing their National Identity Cards.

The official told Dawn that Pakistan had informed the Afghan officials that their proposals would be sent to Islamabad for taking a final decision.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2020