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Islamabad has closed two main crossing points with Afghanistan on eve of the Afghan parliamentary polls, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Friday.
"On request by the government of Afghanistan it has been decided to keep the friendship gates on Pakistan Afghanistan border crossing points at Chaman and Torkhan closed on Oct. 19 and 20," Mohammad Faisal, spokesman for the Foreign Office, said in a statement.
The decision has been taken to support Afghanistan in smooth conduct of upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, Faisal said, adding both crossing points will remain closed for all kind of traffic except emergency cases.
The parliamentary election in Afghanistan is going to be held tomorrow, on Oct. 20.
More than 2,500 people, including 418 women, are competing for the 249 seats in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, lower house of the parliament.
Parliamentary elections in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, due to be held on Saturday, will be delayed by one week following the assassination of the powerful provincial police commander, officials said on Friday.Hafizullah Hashimi, spokesman of the Independent Election Commission, said the decision to delay the vote had been taken because the people of Kandahar were "morally not ready to vote" following the death of the commander, General Abdul Razeq, who was killed by a rogue bodyguard of another top official on Thursday. Afghanistan in shock after death of powerful police commanderMattis says too soon to say if Afghan attack will affect ballot
Election in Afghan province of Kandahar to be delayed a week