Afghanistan-Pakistan
Afghanistan: Taliban insurgents shut down crucial crossing point with Pakistan until demands are met
Islamabad: The Taliban on Friday shut down a crucial crossing point with Pakistan, demanding the neighboring country end the alleged mistreatment of Afghan travelers and ease other restrictions, media reports said.
The crucial crossing point was used for conducting travel and trade with Pakistan.
The abrupt closure of the busy Spin Boldak crossing into the southwestern Pakistani town of Chaman has stranded hundreds of travelers and trucks carrying commercial goods in both directions, traders and witnesses told Voice of America.
Afghanistan is witnessing a spike in violence in recent times ever since the foreign forces started leaving the nation.
The Taliban has captured several regions in the country in recent times.
The Afghanistan security forces and Taliban are engaged in a tough battle for the past several weeks.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid defended the move of closing the crossing point, alleging Afghan travelers are being mistreated by the Pakistani side.
"They [Pakistan] open the border gate only for two, three hours during the entire day for people traveling from Afghanistan, including patients, [Afghan] refugees, traders and others," Mujahid told VOA.
He demanded that Pakistan open the border route for the entire day, as had been the case in the past, arguing it was not possible for such a large number of people to cross over in such a short period of time.
"Men and women are extensively frisked and traders are also harassed," Mujahid told VOA.
"Until Pakistani authorities address these issues and remove the restrictions, the border gate will remain closed," Mujahid said.
Pakistan authorities did not comment on the border closure issue so far.
"Around 700 trucks and 2,000 people are stuck on both sides of the border," Imran Khan Kakar, a senior member of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce in Chaman, told VOA.
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