The Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman remained closed for the fifth consecutive day Monday (today) with the NATO supply and cross-border trade suspended on both sides.
At the request of the Afghan Border Force, a flag meeting was called on Saturday, which remained fruitless.
Trade activities are also being badly affected by the prolonged closure of Bab-e-Pakistan Friendship Gate due to border tensions.
Read more: Closure of Chaman border affects trade activities
Traders say they could face the loss of crores of rupees if their trade items rotted. Four days ago, the Chaman tribesmen also staged a demonstration and torched an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest his statements about Balochistan.
Earlier, Pakistan authorities shut down the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman on Friday after a group of Afghan demonstrators attacked the Friendship Gate at Chaman and set the Pakistani flag on fire.
The incident that took place on Thursday evening has resulted in a suspension in the movement of trucks involved in trade shipments between the two countries and carrying supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan.
Reports suggested that the Afghans were incensed by demonstrations in Balochistan sparked by Indian premier Narendra Modi’s speech on August 15, India’s Independence Day and they showed their support to India by disrespecting the Pakistani flag and throwing stones at the border crossing gate.
The border’s closure has also caused problems for people crossing the border from both sides to visit their relatives. Tight security arrangements have been made by the Pakistani forces on the border.
Read more: Pak-Afghan border at Chaman closed after attack on Friendship Gate