ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday closed two major border points with Afghanistan for its efforts to maintain security during the July 25 elections, officials said.
The Embassy of Pakistan in the Afghan capital Kabul has announced that the Chaman border in southwestern Balochistan and Kharlachi in the Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain closed on July 24 and July 25 due to parliamentary elections in Pakistan.
However, the major border crossing at Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain open as usual, said a statement posted online.
Meanwhile the Afghan consulate in Peshawar has advised all Afghans to avoid unnecessary movement in view of the elections in Pakistan.
Pakistan still hosts around 2.4 million Afghan refugees, according to the UN refugee agency.
Last week Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had assured Pakistani caretaker Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that his government will take measures on the Afghan side of the border for security during the elections.
Pakistan has deployed 800,000 security personnel for the security of elections of the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, and provincial assemblies.
