PESHAWAR: The Pak-Afghan border crossing points at Torkham and Chaman remained opened on Wednesday for only foot-walkers while trade activities remained suspended so far.
The two are major arteries for trade and commerce, although there are other crossings which are less in use and which will also remain closed.
Fayyaz Khan, a government official at Torkham, told The Associated Press that 550 Afghans crossed the border since the crossing was opened at 7:00 am.
About 150 Pakistanis also returned home, he said, adding that “so far no trade activity between Pakistan and Afghanistan has resumed.”
Hukam Dad, a security official at Chaman, said hundreds of Afghans were crossing there as well and that Pakistanis were returning amid tight security. Only the people possessing valid travel documents are being allowed to cross the border on foot, he said.
The closing came a day after Pakistan said a group of militants attacked military posts after crossing over from Afghanistan into the Mohmand tribal region triggering gun battles that killed six soldiers and 10 attackers.
However, it said trade activities across the border will remain suspended. The border will remain open till 10:00 pm today (Wednesday) after which it will be closed again for every type of traffic.
The Pakistan government has opened the Torkham and Chaman border for only two days during which the Afghan nationals, possessing valid travel documents, were allowed to return to their country.
On the first day of opening of the border on Tuesday, 12,500 people crossed while over 400 stranded Pakistanis in Afghanistan crossed the border.
