ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal the other day called upon Pakistan to reopen the border with his country, saying the week-long closure has affected trade and caused hardships for people in both countries.
Pakistan closed the border with Afghanistan over ‘security concerns’ following a string of terror attacks that left over 100 people dead last week. The border remained shut for a seventh day on Thursday.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaatul Ahrar and Da’ish claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Sindh, Lahore and Peshawar. Officials say that all groups behind terrorism in the country operate from the Afghan side of the border.
He claimed that the closure of these crossing points, which are heavily regulated with full checking arrangements on both sides, serve no purpose other than to inflict hardship on ordinary people and hurt trade and transit.
He said he has also conveyed the same plea to Advisor to the Prime Minister of foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday.