Afghan-Pakistan border crossing shut over flag-burning dispute
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Afghan-Pakistan border crossing shut over flag-burning dispute, 22 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db9a2ea.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 22, 2016
A major crossing on the Afghan-Pakistan border has been closed over a dispute over the burning of a Pakistani flag by Afghan demonstrators last week.
Pakistani officials said the Chamman crossing was closed after a group of Afghan youth celebrating the country's independence day on August 19 ransacked the border gate and burned a Pakistani flag.
Pakistani and Afghan officials held meetings over the weekend to resolve the issue, but no agreement was reached.
Hundreds of trucks carrying food and other goods were parked on both sides of the border on August 22.
Chamman, in the southwest Pakistani province of Balochistan, is one of the two major border crossings. The other is Torkham in northwest Pakistan.
Torkham was closed for weeks earlier this year when troops from both countries clashed over a border post Pakistan had planned to build.
The controversial border posts have rekindled the thorny issue of the Durand Line, which Pakistan considers to be an international border but Afghanistan has never recognized.
Based on reporting by dpa and Dawn
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
