Pakistan on Thursday said the closure of the border with Afghanistan has helped improve security, even though it has caused losses to some traders.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said the impact of the closure should be seen in both economic and security terms.
He said that from a trade point of view, there has been some loss because business has been affected.
However, he said the main purpose of the closure was to stop attacks and illegal crossings from the Afghan side.
The spokesperson recalled that in October, there were serious attacks on Pakistani border posts in which security personnel and civilians were killed and some posts were damaged.
He said if closing the border has helped prevent such attacks and saved lives, then it should be seen as a major security gain.
He said Pakistan wants better relations with Afghanistan but made it clear that terrorism is the only real issue between the two countries.
He said Pakistan’s demand is simple and legitimate: Afghan soil should not be used for attacks inside Pakistan.
The spokesperson said if this issue is addressed, there is great potential for cooperation and better ties between the two neighbors.
He said Pakistan hopes the authorities in Kabul will respond positively so peace and stability can return to the region.
