Pakistan, Afghanistan Re-Open Border, Establish Hotline

Pakistan, Afghanistan re-open border, establish hotline

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) — Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened their border on Saturday after successful negotiations between the border security authorities, a senior Pakistani security official said.

The border at Chaman was closed three days ago after Pakistan said that Afghan border forces had taken one of its soldiers to the other side of the border.

“Afghan authorities admitted their fault and regretted the incident in which the Afghan forces kidnapped a paramilitary soldier from Pakistani area along the Pak-Afghan border on Thursday last,” Pakistan paramilitary Frontier Corps Commandant Col. Nasrullah Niazi said.

“They have also assured us that no such incident would happen in future,” Niazi said.

Niazi, however, said that the security would remain tight along the border and only people with proper traveling documents would be allowed to cross the border. “Those using non-traditional ways would be dealt strictly,” he warned.

Meanwhile, according to TV reports, the two sides have agreed to establish a hot line between border officials.

Pakistan officials signed an agreement with Afghans under which the two sides will contact on the hot line in case of such incident as kidnapping of a security official.