Pakistan has reopened a key border crossing with neighbouring Afghanistan a week after an Afghan gunman killed a Pakistani security guard there, forcing a closure of the crossing.
Shehzad Zehri, an official in Chaman, the border city in the southwestern province of Balochistan, confirmed the reopening to Al Jazeera on Monday.
“The deadlock has ended and mobility between the two countries has resumed for all purposes, including pedestrians as well as trade,” he said.
Officials told Al Jazeera the decision to reopen the Chaman border crossing – also known as Friendship Gate – was taken in a meeting between Pakistani and Afghan authorities on Sunday.
Abdul Hameed Zehri, another official in Chaman, said the Afghan authorities expressed regret over last week’s incident and assured action.
The Chaman border, situated nearly 120km (74 miles) to the northwest of Pakistan’s provincial capital Quetta, is one of the busiest border crossings between the two countries and is used by thousands of people every day.
The crossing was closed on November 13 when a Pakistani soldier posted at the border was fired upon.
Credit: Aljazeera.com
