- Both are key points for cross-border movement and local trade in Balochistan province
QUETTA: The authorities on Sunday closed two major pedestrian border crossings with Iran in the wake of escalating military confrontation between Iran and Israel, according to officials of the Balochistan government on Sunday.
The pedestrian movement has been suspended at the Taftan crossing in Chaghi district and the Gabd-Rimdan crossing in Gwadar district, both key routes for cross-border movement and local trade between Balochistan and Iran.
The Gabd-Rimdan border crossing is a point on the Pakistan-Iran border, specifically at “BP-250,” the second crossing along the 900-kilometer border between the two countries. The crossing facilitates trade and people-to-people contact between the two countries.
“Gabd-Rimdan border crossing has been closed for all kinds of pedestrian movement due to the Iran-Israel conflict,” according to Gwadar Assistant Commissioner Jawad Ahmed Zehri.
He said that trade activity at the crossing would continue while Pakistani citizens stranded in Iran would be allowed to return, adding that no new entries into Iran would be permitted through this point until further notice.
In a separate order, authorities also closed the Taftan border crossing in Chaghi district for pedestrian traffic.
“We have closed pedestrian movements at the Taftan border until further notice,” said Naveed Ahmed, assistant commissioner for Taftan, adding that trade and customs operations from the crossing were continuing as usual.
The closures are expected to affect daily wage laborers, small-scale traders and local residents who depend on frequent cross-border movement for commerce, supplies and family visits.
Small items such as fruit, vegetables and household goods are commonly traded by hand or in small vehicles along these routes.
The closures come amid heightened tensions following Israeli strikes on Iranian cities since Friday with scores killed, including senior Iranian military commanders.
The bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Iran reached $2.8 billion in the last fiscal year, which ended in June. Both countries have signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of increasing this volume to $10 billion.
Iran also supplies about 100 megawatts of electricity to border towns in Balochistan.
