Border post controversy sparks new Pak-Afghan tensions

Pakistan-Afghan tensions have taken a new turn the Afghan government on Tuesday accused Pakistan of cross-border shelling and trying to undermine peace talks with the Afghan Taliban.

In a meeting with Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin expressed his concerns over what he called “Pakistani military’s unilateral construction and physical reinforcement activities along the Durand Line.”

According to the Afghan deputy foreign minister, the construction of the Pakistani military check-post close to the Goshta district of Nangarhar province was against international norms and “provocative” to the Afghan government.

According to a press statement, these unilateral activities began a while ago along the Durand Line near the villages of Hatam Kalai and Kodzarai in Goshta district.

Pakistani officials, however, dismissed Ludin’s concerns, calling the construction work routine renovation on an old post.

“Pakistan has an old post called Gursal well inside Pakistani territory bordering Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan, which is under routine renovation,” said Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Tuesday.

According to recently signed agreements, both countries are required to inform the other of any new construction closer to border areas.

According to a press release issued by Pakistani foreign office, the Afghan government had been informed of the renovation work.

“Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin’s recent concerns about construction and physical reinforcement along the Afghan border are therefore not in keeping with the spirit of the understanding on good border management and the recently signed Tripartite Border SOP,” the statement said.

In his meeting with the Pakistani ambassador, the Afghan deputy minister also raised objections against alleged rocket and artillery attacks into Afghanistan from the Pakistani side of the border.

“The continuation of such attacks could negatively affect existing relations between the two countries,” Ludin said.

The Pakistani Foreign Office responded on Tuesday by saying “no rocket or artillery shells have been fired by Pakistan Army in the recent days.”

This is not the first time that Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of such incidents.

Over the past month, the Karzai government has repeatedly accused Pakistan of trying to hinder its progress of peace with Afghan Taliban militants.

Last week, the Afghan deputy foreign minister said he was shocked at “Pakistan’s complacency, and accused the country of “changing the goal post every time we reach understanding.”

The country also cancelled a scheduled military trip to Pakistan due to what it called “unacceptable Pakistani shelling.”

Pakistan responded by saying Kabul “overreacted” to a “small incident.” The foreign ministry said its “disciplined and responsible” troops had responded to “some intrusions from the Afghan side”.

The two neighbouring countries repeatedly accuse each other of cross-border shelling and intrusions.