Pakistan has closed its air and land routes with neighboring Iran amid the latter's escalating war with Israel, rendering hundreds of people stranded on both sides of the border, officials said on Monday, Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera reported.
“Border facilities in all five districts – Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar – have been suspended,” Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, which borders Iran, told AFP.
The closure, which took effect on Sunday, is likely to cause food and oil shortages in several districts of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran and rely on food supplies and smuggled oil from the Islamic republic, locals fear.
Crossing into Iran “has been suspended until further notice”, said Attaul Munim, an official at one of the crossings in Chaghi district.
However, there was “no ban on trade” activities at the border, and Pakistani nationals needing to return to their country from Iran can cross, he added.
“We’re expecting around 200 Pakistani students coming today,” Munim said.
bd-pratidin/GR
