BEIJING, Oct 9: China has closed its border with Afghanistan due to the US retaliatory strikes on targets in the country, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

“Against the current backdrop whereby the US has started its military actions against targets inside Afghanistan ... the Chinese government has decided to close, on a temporary basis, our borders with Afghanistan starting from Oct 8,” foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said.

The government has also closed Taxkorgan county, which borders Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, to all foreign travellers and journalists, he said.—AFP