Pak-Afghan friendship border remains shut for seventh day

Pakistan and Afghanistan still remain at loggerheads over the reopening of the Chaman border as talks to solve the dispute ended inconclusively following which the border remained shut for the seventh day.

The Pak-Afghan border has been closed for the last seven days, suspending NATO supplies and cross-border trade between Islamabad and Kabul after Afghan protesters burnt the Pakistani flag, reports the Express Tribune.

The fourth flag meeting was held at the Friendship Gate between border authorities of the countries on the request of Afghan officials to discuss the issue.

Afghan border officials urged their Pakistani counterparts to reopen the border unconditionally without further delay as it was causing huge financial loss to the traders and businessmen from both sides.

However, Pakistani authorities refused the request and made it clear that the border would be opened only after an apology was extended by Afghan officials who provoked their compatriots into disrespecting the Pakistani flag.

"We have not received orders from the high command regarding reopening of the border with Afghanistan in Chaman so far," said a senior Pakistani official and added that the high command was aware about the situation created after closure of border.