DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | May 02, 2024

Published 06 Mar, 2017 10:48pm

Pak-Afghan border crossings to open temporarily: FO

Pakistan will temporary open border crossings at Torkham and Chaman for two days to allow stranded Afghan nationals to return to their country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Monday.

A MoFA press release said the government decided to open the border crossings on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7 and 8, "in order to provide an opportunity to those nationals of Afghanistan who had come to Pakistan on valid visas and wish to return to their country."

Crossing points will also allow Pakistanis visiting Afghanistan on valid visas to return to the country, the Foreign Office said.

"All concerned at the two crossing points have also been informed, the FO statement added.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also conveyed the decision to the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal by telephone.

Zakhilwal, in a Facebook post in his native language, confirmed that the border crossings were to be temporarily opened for two days, but added that Pakistan and Afghanistan have not yet reached an agreement on permanently reopening the border crossings.

With additional reporting from Ali Akbar.

Read Comments

Pakistan's 'historic' lunar mission to be launched on Friday aboard China lunar probe Next Story