Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Calls For Reopening Of 7 Border Crossings With Afghanistan

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi called for the opening of seven joint border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Kundi said that the reopening of these crossings will enhance trade and regional connectivity.

The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said on Wednesday, November 7, at a meeting in the city of Peshawar that the opening of these crossings will boost trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.

Dawn newspaper quoted Kundi as saying, "The opening of all border crossings with Afghanistan will not only expand trade, but also create economic activities in the region."

He also emphasised that the process of issuing visas for Afghans should be facilitated and common border markets between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan should be established.

Afghanistan and Pakistan share more than 2,000 kilometres of border, along which there are at least eight border crossings. Among these crossings, the movement of passengers and commercial goods is mostly through the two crossings of Torkham and Spin Boldak.

The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province did not specify which border crossings should be opened.

Other border crossings such as Angur Ada border crossing between Barmal district of Paktika and South Waziristan of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Kharlachi border crossing between Kurram tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Patan district of Paktia province; Ghulam Khan border crossing between Miranshah region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Khost; Arandu border crossing between Swat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Barkunar district of Kunar province; Bodi border crossing between Qala Saifullah area of Balochistan and Zabul province, and Tari Mangal border crossing between Parachinar and Aryob in Zazi district.