Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has immediately ordered to re-open the Pak-Afghan border.
The border which was closed last month for an indefinite period of time due to various security reasons will now soon be re-opened. After the suicidal incident of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar last month, it was ordered to seal down the borders with Afghanistan.
According to local media reports, Sharif was quoted saying that this decision will be a goodwill gesture for both the countries since both of them share certain religious, cultural and historic values. However, both the countries are still in between talks regarding removal of terrorism from the states. Sharif was quoted saying, A durable peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace and stability in the region.
Afghan Ambassador, Omar Zakhilwal, also urged the PM to re-open the border since it affected the interests and economies of both the countries. It will be the right message if Your Excellency instructs an immediate opening of our formal trade and transit routes between our two brotherly countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Omar said in his speech at the ECO summit.
They have now been closed for about two weeks, without adequate reasons, causing enormous hardship to ordinary people and a lot of damage to traders on both sides, Zakhilwal continued.
Despite sealing the Torkham and Chaman borders, the government temporarily opened the borders earlier in March to allow Afghan nationals to return to their country. "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", stated the press release of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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