Pakistan closes border crossings ahead of Afghan polls

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.