Taliban calls on Pakistan to allow ‘free’ movement at key border crossing

Afghanistan on Tuesday urged Pakistan to allow people from both countries to “move freely” across a key border crossing in order to play a positive role in both countries’ economic momentum.

Pakistan has restricted movement on the southwestern Chaman border crossing in its Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, for those who do not have valid travel documents, including a passport with a visa.

According to Taliban officials, Pakistan is currently seeking to make passports and visas mandatory for the cross-border movement of locals.

“This decision, akin to the forced deportation of refugees, is a unilateral decision of the Pakistani government in contravention of the ground realities,” a spokesman for Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Ministry said.

It should be mentioned that cross-border movement for locals on both sides was previously permitted for labour and business purposes.