Pakistan shuts borders with Iran amid rising tensions

Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with neighbouring Iran for an indefinite period as Israel and Iran trade intense strikes and threaten further attacks.

"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, said, Caliber.Az reports via Arab media.

Iran and Pakistan share a border stretching 905 kilometers. Border crossings began closing as early as June 15, although the Taftan checkpoint in Chagai district, Balochistan province, remained operational.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar announced the evacuation of 450 Pakistani pilgrims from Iran. 

He also stated that over 150 Pakistani students studying in Iran would return home via the Taftan border crossing. In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a series of intense strikes against Iran. The stated objective of the operation was to halt Tehran’s progress on its nuclear programme. In retaliation, Iran began striking targets inside Israeli territory.

By Naila Huseynova