&w=3840&q=100)
Pakistan closes key border crossing with Afghanistan amid security threats
The Ghulam Khan border has been closed after Saturday's suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district and skirmishes in the province, bordering Afghanistan, a senior Pakistani security official said.
"Following the attack, a curfew has been imposed in North Waziristan, and the border (Ghulam Khan) has been shut down for an unspecified period, he said.
At least 13 security personnel were killed and three others injured in the suicide attack.
Abidullah Farooqi, spokesperson for the Interim Afghan Government's Border Forces, confirmed the closure on Sunday, stating that Pakistani authorities have not provided a clear explanation for the move.
Pakistani officials have merely instructed vehicles at the crossing to use alternative routes, Farooqi said in a statement.
In a separate press release, the provincial administration of Khost province of Afghanistan said officials at the Ghulam Khan crossing were informed by Pakistani authorities on Saturday evening that the route would be temporarily closed due to ongoing security threats.
The statement further noted that no specific timeline has been provided for the reopening of the border, and the closure will remain in effect until further notice.
The Ghulam Khan crossing, located in Khost province, is a critical trade and transit point between the two countries, particularly for goods travelling to and from Pakistan's North Waziristan region.
Afghan authorities have urged citizens, traders, and travellers to avoid the route and instead use other crossings, such as Torkham or Spin Boldak, until the situation is resolved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
35 minutes ago
- India Gazette
India, Pakistan exchange list of prisoners, fishermen; 159 Indians await repatriation despite completing sentences
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st of January and July. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the 'safety, security and welfare' of all civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. 'India has shared the names of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian,' it said. The Government of India has called for the 'early release and repatriation' of civilian prisoners and fishermen currently in Pakistani custody, especially those who have already completed their prison sentences. 'Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence,' the MEA said. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 26 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, it said. 'The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 26 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far,' the statement read. India has also requested Pakistan to confirm the nationality of 80 believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners and fishermen currently in India's custody, as their repatriation was pending due to a lack of nationality verification from Pakistani authorities. 'India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country. In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 80 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India's custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan,' the statement added. The MEA's statement further highlighted that sustained diplomatic efforts have resulted in the repatriation of 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 civilian prisoners from Pakistan since 2014, which includes 500 fishermen and 13 civilian prisoners repatriated since 2023. (ANI)
New Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
India, Pakistan exchange prisoner lists; New Delhi seeks early release of 159 Indians, consular access for 26 others
NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged the biannual lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other's custody, with New Delhi urging Islamabad to expedite the release of 159 Indian nationals who have already completed their sentences and to grant consular access to 26 others. The exchange was done out through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, as part of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access — one of the few functional bilateral mechanisms still in place between the two countries. Under the pact, both sides share prisoner data twice a year, on January 1 and July 1. Another operational mechanism is the annual exchange of lists of nuclear installations, held every January 1 to prevent attacks on such facilities during hostilities. India submitted details of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen believed to be Pakistani. Pakistan, in turn, listed 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen believed to be Indian. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry said India has called for the 'early release and repatriation' of Indian civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats and missing defence personnel held in Pakistani custody. New Delhi pressed Islamabad to speed up the repatriation of 159 prisoners and fishermen who have completed their jail terms, and to immediately provide consular access to 26 others believed to be Indian, but who have not yet received access.
The Print
42 minutes ago
- The Print
'Won't accept without reference to terrorism,' Jaishankar on India not signing SCO outcome document
Singh on Thursday refused to sign a joint communique of the SCO following the omission of the Pahalgam terror attack and not explicitly addressing India's concerns over Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's view on the matter was right since the main purpose of SCO was to fight terrorism and without a reference on it (on India's concerns on terrorism), he would not accept the outcome document. New Delhi: Union External Affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India wanted a reference to terrorism in the outcome document of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting, but it was not acceptable to one member country, an oblique reference to Pakistan. At a conference of SCO defence ministers' conclave, Singh demanded inclusion of the terror attack in the communique while the Pakistani side pressed for having a paragraph on militant activities in Balochistan in an apparent attempt to blame New Delhi, top sources said. The objective of SCO that runs through consensus was to fight terrorism, Jaishankar said in a press conference when asked about Singh's stand. 'In the discussion on outcome document of the defence ministers' meeting, one country — you can guess which one — said 'no we don't want reference to that',' he said. The SCO runs by unanimity, Jaishankar said, but when one country said it will not accept any mention of terrorism, Singh communicated that the outcome document was not acceptable to India. PTI VIT SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: India refuses to sign SCO joint statement over terror issue, Pahalgam & Jaffar Express attacks
