Pakistan on Friday recorded a strong protest with the Afghan government and closed the Bab-e-Dosti Gate at Chaman Border over desecration of the country’s national flag by Afghan citizens protesting against Pakistan.
The protest by Afghan citizens was held in reaction to a similar protest by tribes on the Pakistan side had held on Thursday denouncing Indian Prime Minister Modi’s controversial statement on Balochistan.
Pakistan demanded stern action against those involved in the desecration of Pakistani flag as Pakistani forces closed the Bab-e-Dosti Gate and suspended the NATO supply which disrupted trade on either side of the border.
Afghan citizens on Friday took out a rally against Pakistan for their Independence Day up to the Bab-e-Dosti Gate at the Torkham Border.
Earlier in the day, Afghan citizens, in the presence of their security forces, pelted the Bab-e-Dosti Gate with stones, due to which the glass of the gate shattered. The angry protesters later desecrated a Pakistan flag by burning it.
The Frontier Corps, in retaliation, closed down the Bab-e-Dosti Gate due to which trade across the border came to a complete halt.
Long queues of NATO trucks and other vehicles formed at the border, due to which traders faced immense difficulties.
Modi had sparked controversy on the Indian Independence Day on August 15 when he had alleged that Pakistan was a supporter of “terrorism” and that the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Kashmir had thanked him in the past few days.
Tensions had flared at Torkham earlier in July when Pakistan decided to construct a gate to monitor movement of goods and passengers across the border. Firing by Afghan forces had killed a Pakistan major and injured several others. Construction of the gate was completed in August.