Afghanistan has asked Pakistan to reopen the border and de-escalate tensions between the two neighbouring countries, read a press release issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The release said Ambassador to Afghanistan Abrar Hussain and Afghan Deputy Commander-in-Chief General Murad Ali Murad met on Feb 27, and that Gen Murad had “requested [Islamabad] for de-escalation at the border and reopening of the crossing points between the two countries”.
The crossings were shut two weeks ago following a string of bombings in Pakistan that the country’s leadership blames on militants who sneak across the porous boundary to carry out attacks on its soil.
Gen Murad had also highlighted challenges “due to closure of the border and cross-border shelling from Pakistan”, seeking the country’s help to reduce tensions between the two states.
