Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON DC, 9th Feb. Pakistan on Thursday has announced the closure of its borders with its neighbors Afghanistan and Iran to ensure security during the general elections on r February 8, as per reported by Dawn.
The tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to frequent closures of border crossings at Torkham and Chaman in the recent past.
The decision disclosed by Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Wednesday to maintain stability during the polling process.
The FO spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated, “To ensure full security during the general elections to be held in Pakistan on February 8 , border crossings with Afghanistan and Iran would remain closed both for cargo and pedestrians, as reported by Dawn.
It said that normal operations would resume on February 9.”
According to Pakistani daily Dawn, authorities have duly informed both Afghanistan and Iran regarding the closure.
It noted despite of recent tensions and exchanges of missile fire, the border with Iran remained open last month.
Some 128 million voters to participate in electing members of the national assembly and four provincial assemblies, stringent security measures have been implemented.
Army troops have been deployed, and half of the 90,000-plus polling stations nationwide have been marked as sensitive.
The province of Balochistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist activity leading up to the polls, reported by news media.
Media reported twin terrorist attacks in Pishin and Qilla Saifullah on Wednesday resulted in casualties and raised concerns about election security.
Despite challenges, authorities have affirmed their commitment to conduct the elections as scheduled in Balochistan.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province has been on high alert after frequent terrorist incidents, including an attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan where 10 police officials were martyred.
The observers anticipate significant challenges for authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure trouble-free polls in both provinces, given the heightened violence.
The authorities remain resolute in their determination to safeguard the democratic process from disruption by terrorist elements the media quoted an official source.
