April 7, 2020
In a bid to limit the regional spread of COVID-19, Pakistan sealed the Chaman border crossing point in Balochistan with Afghanistan for all travel and commercial activities on March 2, 2020. The abrupt border closure prevented many Afghan visitors from returning home, including patients seeking better medical treatment in Pakistan, traders, refugee communities and visitors meeting relatives. During this time, the other main border crossing point with Afghanistan, located in Torkham, remained open.
On March 9, as an expanded precautionary measure, Pakistan extended the Chaman border closure through March 16 while on on March 13, Pakistan stopped all international flights, except those at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports.
On March 16, Pakistan completely sealed all its borders with Afghanistan, Iran, and China for two weeks following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country. This included the major border crossing at Torkham as well.
However, on March 20, on humanitarian grounds, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed authorities to open the Chaman-Spinboldak border between Pakistan and Afghanistan to allow trucks crossover into Afghanistan, stating that Islamabad would continue to support Kabul during the global coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, in a tweet, thanked PM Imran Khan and the Government of Pakistan for accept the Afghan people and traders’ call to keep the Chaman-Boldak border open for the flow of foodstuff and key commodities at this critical time.
On March, 21, the country suspended all international flights for two weeks till April 4, which is now extended till April 11.
On April 4, Pakistan announced to open the border with Afghanistan for four days (from April 6 to April 9) to facilitate stranded Afghan nationals to return to their homes. According to the Foreign Ministry, the decision was taken on special request from Kabul’s government and was based on humanitarian considerations. At the same time, arrangements have also begun to make way for Pakistani drivers stuck in Spinboldak.
Pakistan’s border with landlocked Afghanistan stretches to nearly 2,600 kilometers, with several authorized entry points for people and trade as well as transit activities. As of April 7, 2020, Afghan Public Health Ministry officials have confirmed 423 coronavirus cases in Afghanistan, linking most with the Iranian outbreak, with Herat, bordering Iran, bearing the brunt, with hundreds of confirmed cases including dozens of health workers.
At the same time, Pakistan’s coronavirus cases have sharply risen to 3,864 with death toll at 54.
