The Government has decided to temporarily close its western border with Afghanistan following the arrest of around 140 suspected Islamic militants who had returned from the neighbouring country after receiving arms training.
Although there has been no official announcement, sources in the Interior Ministry said for the time being only United Nations officials, diplomats, and members of local tribes would be allowed to use the border facilities.
Other people, mainly Pakistani nationals from other parts of the country, will not be permitted to go into Afghanistan.
The move came as intelligence operatives from the Federal Investigation Agency and other security agencies arrested nearly 140 people during the week who had returned from Afghanistan after taking training in militant activities.
The arrests were made at a time when the country's most populous Punjab province has been rocked by 12 bomb explosions since April, killing more than 100 people and injuring many more.
Interior Minister Nasirullah Khan Babar told Parliament he did not link the bomb explosions with the arrests, but said most of the arrested men were sent for arms training by different Pakistani religious groups.
Mr Babar said a number of Islamic political groups were behind such activities.
