KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): The Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing will be formally reopened for passengers and trade tomorrow, a week after it was closed following a clash between Afghan and Pakistani security forces, officials say.
Kandahar governor’s spokesman Haji Zaid told Pajhwok Afghan News on Sunday that after marathon talks between Afghan and Pakistani sides, it was decided that the crossing will be opened normally on Monday.
He said the Friendship Gate would be unconditionally reopened for passengers and commercial goods.
“Now the leaders have intervened and talked with the Pakistani government. It has been decided that the gate will be open as usual without any conditions, but we will see if the Pakistanis keep their word or not.”
Deputy Commissioner of Chaman Abdul Hamid Zahri told the media today that the gate between Spin Boldak and Chaman would be opened on Monday after several meetings between Afghan and Pakistani officials.
During these meetings, he said, the Afghan side expressed deep regret over the incident that resulted in the killing of one Pakistani soldier and injuring of two others.
He said the Afghan authorities had promised they would find the person responsible for the incident and give him severe punishment.
He said some ‘conditional’ decisions were made after a series of meetings that the gate would be opened for travelers and trade vehicles and efforts would be made to prevent such incidents in future.
However, Kandahar provincial officials said no condition had been set for opening the gate.
Local residents insist the crossing should never be closed for travelers and traders.
Juma Jan, a resident of Spin Boldak district, said: “We are very happy that the gate is being opened. All businesses come to a halt when this route is closed. Such incidents should be resolved through talks and the gate should not be closed.”
Haji Gul Mohammad, a businessman from Kandahar, also said the road should not fall prey to politics and should never be closed to transit trade and passengers.
He added: “Whenever a dispute occurs, the Pakistani side closes the gate. Why should people suffer? They should resolve the dispute instead of closing the gate in order people traders avoid losses”.
The Friendship Gate has been many times closed due to clashes between security forces of the two countries.
Currently, people having Kandahar ID card and Pakistani ID card of Chaman can cross the gate.
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