PM orders to re-open Pak-Afghan border

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday ordered the re-opening of the two main border crossings to Afghanistan, after their closure last month following a series of attacks that Islamabad blamed on militants operating from across the frontier.

Relations between the countries have been tense in recent months, with both accusing each other of not doing enough to tackle militants.

The closure left hundreds of thousands of people and lorries carrying food and other goods to Afghanistan stranded at the two major crossings of Torkham and Chamans.

"We have taken this decision on humanitarian grounds," a statement from Sharif's office said on Monday.

In a statement, he said recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan have been traced back to anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan. However, the decision to re-open the border is being taken as closure of the border for a long time in the backdrop of , religious, culture and historical ties between the two countries would not be in the interest of the people and the economy.

He said the decision to re-open the border is being taken as a goodwill gesture. The Prime Minister hoped that the Afghan Government would take measures to address the reasons for which the borders were closed.

The government acted after more than 130 people were killed in a spate of attacks by Pakistani militants that Islamabad says have taken shelter in Afghanistan. Afghanistan denies harboring them.