ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that Afghanistan’s continuous refusal to admit the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was “irresponsible and unwarranted”.
The Afghan foreign ministry’s statement said that Kabul “does not recognise Durand Line as an official border between the two countries”.
The statement had come as a response to the opening of the Torkham border. Responding to the Afghan government’s remarks on Durand Line, Pakistan said that it was an “internationally recognised border and that there was no dispute in that”.
“Pakistan-Afghanistan border is an internationally recognised, official border between the two countries in accordance with all relevant international laws and conventions,” it added.
“Such statements only serve to undermine the resolve for peace and cooperation between the two countries and should be avoided,” the FO added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had formally inaugurated the border crossing on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion, the PM had said the round-the-clock opening of the border crossing will facilitate trade in the region.
“I consider this to be a very historic day,” he said, noting that trade with Afghanistan had jumped by 50 per cent during the trial of the 24/7 border opening alone.
