Pak-Afghan border crossing at Chaman shut for fifth straight day

Islamabad, Nov 17 (IANS) The Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing at Chaman remained closed for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, media reports said.

The Chaman border  known as Friendship Gate  was closed after unidentified armed men opened fire on the Pakistani security troops from inside Afghanistan, killing a soldier and injuring another two on Sunday, Geo News reported.

All business and trade activities at the Chaman border remained suspended for the fifth day.

The federal government will take a decision about the opening of the Friendship Gate, Chaman's Deputy Commissioner said, adding that Islamabad and Kabul are in contact with each other on the matter, Geo News reported.

On November 13, a Frontier Corps soldier was killed and two more sustained injuries in the midst of a cross-border attack from Afghanistan to Balochistan's Chaman district.

Afghan security officials allegedly opened fire on the FC personnel while they were deployed on duty on the Pakistani side of the Bab-e-Dosti near Chaman, as per Levies officials.

As a result of the attack, one FC trooper was killed while two were injured due to bullets shot at them during the exchange of fire between security officials of the two countries.

Following the incident, the Pakistani authorities contacted the Afghan government for a ceasefire in the area. Meanwhile, Bab-e-Dosti has been closed for all kinds of trade and pedestrian movement, Geo News reported.