Pakistan to open border for stranded Afghan nationals

A man walks past an empty bus terminal near the closed Pakistan-Afghanistan border amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Torkham some 54 kms from Peshawar on March 16, 2020. (AFP)

• On Kabul’s request, the border crossings will briefly reopen from April 6 to 9
• Pakistan sealed its border with Afghanistan on March 16 following the Covid-19 outbreak

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced on Saturday it would briefly reopen its borders with Afghanistan to allow stranded Afghan nationals to return home, the foreign office said.
On March 16, the coronavirus outbreak prompted Pakistan to seal borders with its neighbors as part of stringent containment measures against Covid-19. The border closure affected huge numbers of Afghans in Pakistan for various reasons including trade, visiting families and seeking better medical treatments-- all of who were abruptly stranded.
But next week, at Kabul’s special request, Torkham and Chaman land border crossings with Afghanistan will be opened “for a specific period” between April 6 to 9 to facilitate Afghan nationals, the FO statement said.
“At the special request of the Government of Afghanistan and based on humanitarian considerations, Pakistan has decided to allow the exit of Afghan nationals in Pakistan wishing to go back to their country,” the FO statement read.
According to the latest tally from both countries, five people have died from coronavirus in Afghanistan and 270 have tested positive so far. In Pakistan, confirmed cases crossed 2,700 on Saturday with 41 reported deaths from the disease.
The foreign ministry added that as a neighbor and in view of fraternal bilateral relations, Pakistan remained “in abiding solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, particularly at this time of global pandemic.”
Earlier on March 20, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan allowed Chaman border to open briefly, to facilitate the flow of foodstuff and perishable commodities to Afghanistan.