The Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing point, one of the most important border points between Pakistan and Afghanistan, was reopened by the Pakistan authorities on Tuesday after a gap of almost three months to ease the cross-border travel for traders, patients, and others. The Pakistan government had earlier closed the crossing when the fighting intensified between the Taliban and the erstwhile Afghan government, which collapsed on 15 August. 

However, Islamabad hadn’t opened the border point after the Taliban's takeover as thousands of desperate Afghans lined up near the border to escape Afghanistan. The decision to open the border crossing came after an agreement reached between Pakistani and Afghan authorities on Monday, reported Dawn newspaper. 

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), a Pakistani religious party known for having good relations with the Afghan Taliban, reportedly lobbied with the Pakistan government to open the crossing. JUI(F) leader Qari Mohammad Aslam, said that citizens of Chaman in Pakistan and Kandahar in Afghanistan would be able to cross the border on the basis of their identity cards. Local media reports showed thousands of Afghans, including those in need of urgent medical attention, been camping at the border points for weeks. 

The Taliban, which last month resumed issuing passports and other related travel documents, was also having a hard time controlling swelling camps along with these border points. Leaders from both sides were involved in talks for days about opening the border.

"Afghanistan and Pakistan have decided to open [the] Chaman-Boldak crossing from tomorrow (Tuesday) for pedestrians as well as trade,” Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Khan was quoted as saying by Dawn. He said both countries would look for smooth operations of the important border crossing,

For traders also, Chaman-Spin Boldak is one of the most important crossing points, and the closure impacted their businesses. Hundreds of trucks laden with fruits and other Afghan exports remained stranded on several crossing points along the border with Pakistan for weeks.  

For now, the Chaman- Spin Boldak crossing would remain open for trade throughout the day while pedestrians would be able to cross between 7 am and 5 pm.

"Customs officials have been called back on duty because we have received orders to restart trade operations with Afghanistan," a Pakistani customs official was quoted as saying by Dawn.  
Significantly, the move came after last month’s visit by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who became the third foreign minister--after those of  Qatar and Uzbekistan-- to have visited Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. 

(SAM)