Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said on Friday that some people opened fire on Pakistani checkpoints in Chaman from across the border to forcibly enter Pakistan.

In a statement, Shibli said that firing damaged the Pakistani checkpoints. He said that Pakistani soldiers retaliated when they came under fire from Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan wanted to strengthen its decades-old relation with Afghanistan. He said that Chaman Border should be opened for one day to allow transportation of goods. He said that measures are being taken to improve the border system. He said that Toorkham, Inaam Khan and Angoor Ada borders have been closed due to pandemic. He said that 2000 to 2500 people cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan every day. He said that some people involved in smuggling incited those who resorted to firing on the checkpoints on the Pakistan side of the border.

The information minister said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are two brotherly countries and Pakistan always took steps for Afghanistan’s betterment. He said that Pakistan has made the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for those crossing the border stricter. He said it was the government’s vision to make the Pakistani borders safer in line with the international practices. He said that smuggling has been one of the issues, which added to the border tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that closure of the border will also affect smuggling and that may be the reason that some people provoked those who attacked the Pakistani checkpoints. He said that Pakistan would strengthen its relations with the Afghan government and people. He said that Pakistan would request the Afghanistan government to cooperate. He said that Pakistan would fully facilitate trade with Afghanistan.