Border shut after Afghans burn Pakistani flag

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has closed one of its main border point with Afghanistan after a group of Afghans staged a protest and tried to attack the crossing in the troubled Balochistan province.

A large number of people had gathered near Friendship Gate at Chaman in Balochistan to celebrate Afghanistan's national day yesterday.

During the event, some Afghans attacked the gate and burnt a Pakistani flag in the evening, prompting authorities to deploy additional security troops and shut down the gate for indefinite period, an official said.

Another official said the Afghans belonging to border town of Spin Boldak protested in favor of India after Pakistan protested against the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Balochistan.

They also chanted slogans against Pakistan, threw rocks at the gate.

The closure resulted in long queues of trucks and lorries on both sides of the border. The traders suffered on both sides as fresh supplies of essential items have been badly interrupted.

Pakistan had closed Torkham border crossing in the north- west region in June after deadly clashes with Afghan forces. It was later reopened after talks between high officials of the two countries.