Pakistani government announced on Saturday that it has reopened the Spin Boldak crossing, one of the two main crossing points with Afghanistan, three weeks after several people from the two countries were killed after Afghan forces stopped a team of Pakistani census surveyors to conduct survey in two villages that Afghanistan considers to be part of its own territory. 

The intervention by the Afghan security forces followed retaliation from the Pakistani side and forces from the two sides engaged in 11 hour deadly battle that left at least nine Pakistanis and six Afghans dead and scores other wounded. 

Pakistan’s unilateral move on the border also left travelers and business convoys stranded on both sides of the border. 

Meanwhile, police officials in the southern province of Kandahar have confirmed that the Pakistani military have reopened the crossing following series of negotiations between the two sides. 

“The crossing was closed following battle between Afghanistan and Pakistan over Luqman and Jahangir villages, but yesterday (Saturday) the local officials from the two sides had a meeting and the crossing was reopened without any preconditions,” said Spin Boldak police commissioner Mohammad Sharif Gharzai. 

In addition, local residents and businessmen have also reported that the closure of Spin Boldak crossing left major financial losses to the business community and the passengers.

“The people are facing with many problems, because they are stranded in both sides. There have been a lot of losses for business community and traffic remained closed over the past 22 days,” said Najibullah, a passenger in Spin Boldak.