Pakistan to reopen border with Afghanistan for 2 days

Islamabad authorities on Monday decided to open the Pakistan-Afghan border crossings for two days to facilitate nationals of both the countries to return home.

"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, the government of Pakistan has decided to open the border crossings at Torkham and Chaman on March 7 and 8," the Foreign Office said.

The crossing points will also be opened for those Pakistani nationals who went to Afghanistan on valid visas and wish to return to the country, it said.

The announcement came following numerous requests by the Afghan authorities to reopen the border, saying it was creating a humanitarian crisis.

The crossing points were sealed after a series of bomb blasts and suicide attacks rocked the country, killing over 100 people last month. Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harbouring the militants who carried out the attacks.

The decision was conveyed by the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz to the Afghan Ambassador by telephone. "All concerned at the two crossing points have also been informed," the statement said.

--IANS

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