- Pakistan lodges strong protest with Afghanistan over firing at Torkham
- Curfew imposed in Torkham, Landi Kotal as Afghan Ministry of Defence orders 201st Silab Corps To support Afghan border forces
- Clash took place over construction of gate and laying of barbed wire to check entry of illegal Afghans and terrorists into Pakistan
- Afghan MoD says Afghan armed forces will not allow Pakistan to unilaterally establish installations along the border
Pakistan on Monday lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over unprovoked firing by Afghan forces at Pakistani forces at the Torkham border crossing. Meanwhile, the political administration has imposed curfew in Torkham and Landi Kotal.
According to reports, after the clash with Pakistan border forces, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army forces in Nangarhar province has been instructed to provide support to the security posts of the Afghan border police located along the border, Afghan media reported on Monday.
Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan and President Ghani’s Special Envoy Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz also discussed the latest skirmish among the Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham.
The clash took place over the construction of the gate and laying of barbed wire to check entry of illegal Afghans and terrorists into Pakistan. Reports say that People living around the bordering area have been shifted to safer places.
“At about 2120 hours Afghan Security forces resorted to unprovoked firing on Pakistani side at Torkham Gate. A Pakistani soldier was injured due to Afghan firing. Pakistani security forces responded to Afghan firing effectively,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.
As many as two soldiers and 9 civilians including women and children were injured in the incident Sunday evening.
A statement from the Foreign Office said the Afghan Charge d’affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked that the incident be thoroughly investigated and the findings be shared with Pakistani authorities.
It was further emphasised that all steps should be taken for avoiding recurrence of such incidents in the future, the statement said.
‘FIRING WAS AIMED AT DISRUPTING CONSTRUCTION OF A GATE WELL INSIDE PAKISTAN’:
The Afghan Charge d Affaires was told that the firing incident was contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office said the firing was aimed at disrupting the construction of a gate well inside the Pakistani territory at the border designed to facilitate cross-border movement of people and vehicles.
It was conveyed to the Afghan side that the regulation of movement at Torkham was part of the government’s policy to strengthen border management.
The Foreign Office said the Afghan government’s cooperation was needed to enhance mutual security and help combat the threat of terrorism.
AFGHAN MOD ORDERS 201ST SILAB CORPS TO SUPPORT AFGHAN BORDER FORCES:
After a deadly clash with Pakistan border forces, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army forces in Nangarhar province has been instructed to provide support to the security posts of the Afghan border police located along the border.
Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the Afghan National Army forces have the responsibility to defend the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of the country and are prepared to respond to any threats posed by any country.
According to a statement by Afghan MoD, the Afghan armed forces will not allow any unilateral move and establishment of installations without consultations with the Afghan government.
The statement further added that the Afghan Ministry has taken the necessary steps to prevent the establishment of installations, insisting that “the Ministry of Defense has precisely reviewed the recent movements along the zero point of Durand Line, including the Torkham and other areas and has instructed the 201st Silab Corps in Nangarhar to deploy forces and equipment to provide support to the Afghan border police posts”.
The statement by the Afghan MoD was released hours after a heavy clash erupted among the Afghan border guards and the Pakistani forces in Torkham.
The Afghan officials are saying clashes erupted after the Afghan prevented the military installation by Pakistani forces in Torkham.
According to the officials, an Afghan border policeman lost his life and six others were wounded during the clash and that the Pakistani side also suffered casualties.
CURFEW IMPOSED IN TORKHAM, LANDI KOTAL:
Political administration has imposed curfew in Torkham and Landi Kotal areas to prevent any loss of life after Afghan forces on late Sunday night fired at the Torkham border crossing, injuring a Pakistani soldier.
After the incident, the political administration has imposed curfew in Torkham and Landi Kotal areas.
It may be mentioned that Torkham is the most frequented crossing point at the Pak-Afghan Border and most of the terrorists have also been found using this gate for entry.
In order to check the movement of terrorists through Torkham, Pakistan is constructing a gate on its own side of the border as a necessity to check unwanted and illegal movement.
The firing incident occurred days after Pakistan introduced a new mechanism along the border that requires every Afghan to carry travel documents for entering Pakistan.
Earlier, thousands of Afghans living near the border would cross into Pakistan without passports and visas.
Pakistan has said the new system has been put in place to curb the cross-border movement of the militants who would take advantage of the loose border monitoring system.
ZAHIKLWAL, SARTAJ AZIZ DISCUSSED BORDER CLASH: AFGHAN EMBASSY:
The Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan and President Ghani’s Special Envoy Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz discussed the latest skirmish among the Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan in a statement said the issue was discussed during a telephone conversation as Zakhilwal is currently in Kabul.
The statement further added that Zakhiwal also shared the issue with the Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif.
Zakhilwal insisted on diplomatic options and mutual agreements regarding the issues such as the Torkham and said the use of power and unilateral steps would not help resolve the tensions.
According to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan, the two sides have agreed to hold talks in the coming days to discuss the Torkham issue and issues between the two countries.
ABDULLAH ABDULLAH CONDEMNS TORKHAM SHOOTING, CONFIRMS CEASEFIRE:
Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned what he described as the overnight attack on border police by Pakistani forces but said a ceasefire had been agreed upon.
Addressing the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday morning in Kabul, the chief executive said the Afghan government and Pakistan had an agreement that before building any new installations in that area, they would be discussed and mutually agreed upon according to international law.
“We have discussed this through diplomatic channels too but Pakistan didn’t act upon the decisions,” he said.
“Pakistan wanted to build new installations and Afghan Border Forces didn’t allow it. Pakistan went further and fired towards Afghan Forces,” he added.
“One of our border soldiers was martyred and six others wounded in clashes against Pakistan last night. The other side had casualties too.”
He went on to praise Afghan security forces and said: “We have the right to protect ourselves and no one should look down at us when it comes to defending our sovereignty and integrity.”
“We have proved that we are able to protect our homeland and our people. The current fight Pakistan started doesn’t help anyone’s interest.”
He said: “We currently have agreed to a ceasefire with Pakistan. We hope this problem will end through the work by diplomatic addresses.”
Since when do we need their permission to fence our side of the border? International law is on Pakistan’s side. Afghans are delusional to think the border can ever be renegotiated in their favor. If anything, the Pashtun tribes on their side of the border would rather join Pakistan instead of living under suzerainty of Tajiks in a dysfunctional country like Afghanistan.
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