Afghans violate Torkham ceasefire as Pakistan vows to build border gate

• Afghan envoy Dr Zakhilwal denies he had agreed to Pakistan’s construction of gate at Torkham border
• PM’s Adviser Sartaj Aziz says Afghanistan was informed two months ago Pakistan will implement documentation of movement across Torkham
• Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says TTP being provided safe havens on Afghan soil and support by Afghan intelligence agencies

Despite agreeing to ceasefire and hoisting white flags on either side of Torkham border, Afghan forces resorted to unprovoked firing again late on Wednesday night, wounding two Pakistani paramilitary officials.

Pakistani forces retaliated to the Afghan firing, as the injured personnel of the Frontier Constabulary were transported to a nearby hospital.

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal, meanwhile, denied he had agreed on the construction of a gate at Torkham border, saying reports about an understanding with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif were unfounded.

In a statement on Facebook, the Afghan envoy maintained that he had discussed an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of tension and drawing down of forces in Torkham on both sides to defuse the situation.

Govt to complete construction work at Torkham:

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, in a policy statement in the National Assembly, said that Pakistan believed that effective border management was a key to enhancing security and checking infiltration of terrorists along Pakistan, Afghanistan border.

The adviser reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to complete construction work at Torkham, saying it was part of the plan to strengthen border controls and regulate movements across the border.

Sartaj reiterated that effective border management was vital for enhancing security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that it was also important for efforts for combating threat of terrorism as unregulated movement provided opportunity for infiltration of terrorists and smugglers across the border which was not in the interests of the two countries.

Sartaj told the House that he spoke Wednesday to the Afghan National Security adviser and foreign minister, inviting them to visit Pakistan as early as possible to discuss this matter and remove gaps in communication or misunderstanding.

He assured the lawmakers that Pakistan desired strengthening of brotherly relations with Afghanistan through enhanced bilateral engagement. “The country remains firm to complete the border management plan as it has become a critical requirement both for our security concerns and stability of the two countries,” he went on to add.

The adviser clarified that works relating to border management had been undertaken on the Pakistani side and the gate at Torkham was being constructed 31 metre inside Pakistani territory.

He said Afghanistan was informed two months back that from first of June Pakistan would implement documentation of movement across Torkham border. This was adequately publicised for the benefit of Afghan people, he added.

The adviser said that during a meeting of Afghan ambassador with senior Pakistani officials, including the army chief, it was agreed that Afghan side would allow construction work to regulate movement of people and traffic across the border.

He said Pakistan was committed to undertaking any construction as this was its prerogative and there was no restriction on such work under any bilateral agreement or international law.

Pakistan for effective border management with Afghanistan:

Making a policy statement in the Senate on the recent tension in Pak-Afghan relations, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan was determined for effective border management with Afghanistan for peace and security in the region.

Asif said the government had been in talks with the Afghan government over a year to ensure better management of the border in order to stop infiltration of militants from both sides. He said this was in the interests of both the countries.

The minister said the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was responsible for all the acts of terrorism inside Pakistan, adding that the terrorist outfit was being provided safe havens on Afghan soil and Afghan intelligence agencies were supporting it.

Asif said Pakistan had no dispute with Afghanistan, saying, “If three million Afghan refugees, who are being provided refuge for three decades, go back, Pakistan would neither be blamed for hosting Quetta Shoora nor the Haqqani network.”

The minister made it categorically clear that Pakistan would not take a step back in connection with border management. He also told the Senate that there were 78 crossing points on Pak-Afghan border.

Aif said Afghan refugees had put negative impact on Pakistan’s economy.

He further said that “while Pakistanis are not provided any preferential treatment in Afghanistan, we are providing education, health and other basic facilities to Afghan refugees”.

Referring to the recent tension caused by clashes at Torkham border, the minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to brotherly relations with the neighbouring country. He said the two countries shared common history, culture and religion and their destinies were interlinked. “We have no animosity with Afghanistan; rather interests of both the countries are interconnected,” he added.

Asif said peace in Pakistan was linked with peace in Afghanistan. “It was in this context that the QCG involving Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and the United States was established to expedite the peace efforts,” he said, but the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a recent drone strike made the peace prospects uncertain.

The minister pointed out that there were certain elements who did not want peace and development in Pakistan. He, however, said that the Pakistan government would continue to tread the path of peace so that the people of both the countries could reap fruit of it.

The minister said the current issue on Pak-Afghan crossing points could be resolved in a spirit of accommodation and adjustment from both sides. He also said that Pakistan gave the Angoor Ada check post to Afghanistan in a gesture of goodwill.