VIDEO: Pakistan allows thousands of stranded Afghans to cross Chaman border on ‘humanitarian ground’

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan partially reopened its Chaman crossing with Afghanistan, closed since the Afghan Taliban seized control of the strategic border town (Spin Boldak) on the other side.

Thousands of Afghans were left stranded in Chaman after Taliban fighters seized Spin Boldak from Kabul's forces on Wednesday.

As many as 4,000 Afghans, including women and children, are allowed to cross the border to celebrate Eid Al Adha with their families, purely on humanitarian grounds, a border official said, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Pakistani people return from Afghanistan after crossing the border point in town of Chaman on Saturday. AFP

Stranded Afghans would be allowed to cross until the evening, with the possibility the Chaman crossing would open again tomorrow, the official added.

A paramilitary official, M. Tayyab, told local media that the decision was taken because of "relative calm on the Afghan side," but said the Chaman border would remain shut to trade.

Thousands of families rushed to the main border gates as soon as they were opened.

Muhammad Khan, who works in Quetta city, said he had been waiting at the border trying to reach Afghanistan for Eid Al Adha. I will try to come back to Quetta after Eid Al Adha because there is unemployment in Afghanistan and I will not be able to get any job there, Khan said.