Pakistan Closes Border with Iran

Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with neighboring Iran for an indefinite period, local officials said today, as Israel and Iran exchange heavy strikes and threaten further attacks.

"Border facilities in all five districts of Jaghi, Washak, Panjgur, Kish, and Gwadar have been suspended," Qadir Bakhsh Birkani, an official in Balochistan province bordering Iran, told AFP.

Ata Munim, an official at one of the crossings in the Jaghi district, said that crossings into Iran were "suspended until further notice."

However, "there is no ban" on commercial activity at the border, and Pakistani citizens wishing to return home from Iran can cross, the official said.

"We expect about 200 Pakistani students to arrive today," Al-Munim added.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday the evacuation of 450 Pakistani pilgrims from Iran, with more to follow, including from Iraq.

Pakistan declared on Friday its "solidarity with the government and people of Iran" in the face of Israeli attacks.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the world "should be wary and apprehensive of Israel's nuclear power," accusing it of lacking "any international nuclear discipline."

T/S

ANHA