Key Pak-Afghan Border Crossing Reopened On Ramadan Eve

Pakistan on Saturday announced reopening of a key crossing with neighboring Afghanistan after three weeks on the "request" of Kabul government on "humanitarian grounds" on the eve of Ramadan.



"Pakistan has (re) opened Friendship Gate Chaman on humanitarian grounds in Ramadan on the request from Afghan authorities," Pakistan army said in a statement.



The southwestern crossing, which connects Pakistan's Balochistan province with southern Afghan province of Kandahar, was shut down on May 6 following a deadly clash between the two border forces leaving over a dozen dead and 80 injured from both sides.



The clash had erupted after Afghan border forces reportedly opened fire on Pakistani officials carrying out census exercise in two disputed villages - Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir-. Both countries claim the disputed villages in full.



"It has been agreed upon by Pakistan authorities that cease-fire shall continue to be maintained and no border violation will be acceptable and Pakistani troops will maintain its positions along International Border in Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir on Pakistani side of the border," the statement added.



Also in last February, Pakistan had unilaterally closed its border with Afghanistan, commonly known as the Durand Line, for over a month following a spate of terror attacks, including a suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in southern Sehwan that left 90 people dead.



Pakistan blames "Afghanistan-based terrorists" for recent flare-up of violence on its soil, whereas Kabul, denies the charge and itself accuses Islamabad of patronizing the Afghan Taliban, particularly powerful Haqqani network, a group blamed for numerous militant attacks in Afghanistan in recent years.



Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 crossing points -- the most commonly used ones are Torkham and Chaman.



Afghanistan does not recognize the Durand Line -- a 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) long border, which was established in 1893 in line with an agreement between India under British colonial rule, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the then ruler of Afghanistan. -