TORKHAM: Violent Afghan protesters, with the tacit support of their security personnel, stormed the Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate) on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham area on Friday.
The gate was closed after the incident, which took place on the Afghan Independence Day on August 19. Afghans celebrate Independence Day on August 19 to commemorate the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919.
Afghans took out a rally in reaction to Pakistani people’s peaceful protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brahamdagh Bugti, founder of the Baloch Republican Party and leader of the violent separatist movement in Balochistan.
The Afghan protesters started their rally from Spin Boldak border area and marched up to Torkham. They pelted the Friendship Gate with stones and smashed its windows and doors. They burnt a Pakistani flag near the border to show their hatred for Pakistan. Afghan security personnel were present on the occasion, but they did not stop the violent people.
As the Friendship Gate was closed after the violent incident, all kinds of economic activity between the two countries through this border crossing came to a grinding halt. Supplies to NATO troops from Pakistan were also suspended after the incident. A long queue of trucks was seen at the gate after its closure.
