page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
section_title: Pakistan's response
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan / Impacts / Effects on travel / Pakistan's response
caption_attribution_description: Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of NATO and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan, visited military and civilian personnel assigned to Regional Command-East, Nangarhar province, Sept. 5. Allen received a briefing and walking tour of Torkham Gate area of operations during his visit and thanked U.S. and Afghan forces for their service and sacrifice. ISAF is a key component of the international community's engagement in Afghanistan, assisting Afghan authorities in providing security and stability while creating the conditions for reconstruction development. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Michael O'Connor) (Released)
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Afghanistan when its index case, in Herat, was confirmed on 24 February 2020.
  As of 26 August, there have been 38,113 positive cases, with 29,037 recoveries and 1,401 deaths across all 34 provinces in the country. Kabul Province has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan at 14,877, followed by Herat with 6,090 cases, and then Balkh with 1,985.
context_section_description: In response to Afghanistan's and Iran's cases, Pakistan closed its border at Chaman with Afghanistan for at least three weeks, starting on 2 March, as both countries confirmed rising number of cases over the weeks. On 13 March, all land borders with Pakistan were closed. It was also announced that Pakistan would completely seal its land border with Afghanistan from 16 March for at least two weeks. On 21 March, Pakistan reopened its border with Afghanistan.
  On 4 April, Pakistan announced that the Chaman and Torkham borders will open between 6 and 9 April for stranded Afghans to return to their country at the request of the Afghan Government.
caption: The Torkham border crossing.
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