Afghan-Pakistan border crossing reopens a week after fighting

The main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopened to pedestrians and vehicles yesterday, more than a week after it was closed following a gun battle between frontier guards.

There have been several border closures after clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, but this one -- lasting nine days -- was one of the longest so far.

Ailing Afghans desperate to make hospital appointments in Pakistan were among the first to cross, pushed in homemade wheelchairs past checkpoints and luggage x-ray machines along roads and walkways between the frontier posts.