Asia

Over 20,000 cross reopened Pakistani-Afghan border

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Afghans wait to enter Afghanistan at Pakistan's Torkham border post, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Thousands of Afghans gathered at the Pakistani border to return home on Tuesday as Pakistan temporarily reopened two main crossings that had been closed last month after a wave of militant attacks. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) (The Associated Press)

Vehicles carrying Afghan nationals, travel through Pakistan's famous Khyber Pass en route to neighboring Afghanistan in Pakistan, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Thousands of Afghans gathered at the Pakistani border to return home on Tuesday as Pakistan temporarily reopened two main crossings that had been closed last month after a wave of militant attacks. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) (The Associated Press)

Pakistani security personnel check Afghan nationals as they prepare to leave to Afghanistan, at Pakistan's Torkham border, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Thousands of Afghans gathered at the Pakistani border to return home on Tuesday as Pakistan temporarily reopened two main crossings that had been closed last month after a wave of militant attacks. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) (The Associated Press)

Officials say over 20,000 Afghans and Pakistanis have crossed the border since Pakistan temporarily reopened two main crossings that had been closed after a string of militant attacks.

Fayyaz Khan, a Pakistani official at the Torkham crossing, says thousands more are hoping to cross Wednesday, before the two-day opening is set to end.

Pakistan closed the Torkham and Chaman crossings last month after a wave of suicide bombings killed more than 125 people. Pakistan said the attacks were launched by militants in Afghanistan, allegations denied by Afghan officials.

The two countries have long accused each other of failing to combat extremists who operate along their porous frontier.