Iran and Pakistan have temporarily suspended cross-border movement and trade, with officials citing technical problems, precautionary measures and security concerns.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Saturday that authorities in both countries were in close contact to resolve the issues and restore normal operations at border crossings as soon as possible, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.
In Pakistan, the Ministry of Commerce halted trade through the official Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan border checkpoints after issuing a memorandum on Friday revoking an earlier order dated October 3, Dawn reported.
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, said the temporary closure was intended to address security concerns, prevent smuggling and improve border administration. He urged the public to disregard social media rumours about the shutdown.
Rind added that officials from both governments were in active discussions to resolve administrative issues and said the border was likely to reopen soon as a coordinated system to strengthen border management and counter illegal smuggling networks was being established.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of Chagai district in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province said the suspension was a temporary measure to strengthen border management and support counter-terrorism operations. The official said the border would reopen once effective measures were in place.
(With agency inputs from ANI and Reuters)
