Chaman border reopens after over three weeks
The border crossing was closed after clashes with Afghan forces during census on May 5
May 27, 2017
CHAMAN: The main border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Chaman, Balochistan, was reopened on Saturday after being closed since May 5 following cross-border clashes.
The border crossing — also known as Bab-e-Dosti — was reopened on humanitarian grounds in light of Ramazan and on the request of Afghan authorities, said a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army.
Trading and pedestrian traffic resumed on the border following the announcement.
The Bab-e-Dosti was closed on May 5, after Afghan border forces fired on Frontier Corps Balochistan soldiers deployed for the security of a census team. As many as 11 people were killed and 46 injured in the incident on the Pakistani side. Later, Pakistani officials said dozens of Afghan police personnel were killed in retaliatory fire but the figure was dismissed by the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan.
“After the Chaman incident, Pakistan has its area under effective control having pushed back Afghan border police troops,” reads the ISPR statement.
As the border is not clearly marked throughout, there has always been a dispute with Afghanistan over some villages in the border areas.
The census process in Pakistan has been completed on the Pakistani side and it has been agreed upon by Pakistani authorities that the ceasefire shall be maintained and no border violation will be acceptable, the statement added.
Pakistani troops will maintain its positions along the international border in Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir villages on the Pakistani side of the border.
Tensions between both the countries have resulted in the temporary closure of the gate in the past as well.
On February 16, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was closed after a bomb ripped through a shrine in interior Sindh leaving at least 80 people dead.
The border was reopened after 18 days only for travellers on foot, and not for vehicles.
After the most recent closure of the Chaman border, the voluntary return of Afghan refugees under the UNHCR scheme was also halted. Moreover, the scores of people who cross the border daily for personal and business visits were also unable to cross the border. However, the Pakistani government later allowed Afghan nationals holding valid passports and visas, as well as those needing urgent medical attention, to cross the border.
