- Geological experts to use Google, geological maps to survey of Killi Luqman, Killi Jahangir villages
- FO spokesperson says border management vital to control terrorism
Pakistan and Afghanistan military authorities have decided to determine geographical boundaries of their areas during the third flag meeting at the Bab-e-Dosti gate of the border on Sunday.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Frontier Corps North Sector Commander Brigadier Nadeem Sohail and Afghanistan’s delegation was headed by Colonel Muhammad Sharif. The meeting was also attended by geological survey teams of the two sides.
During the meeting, the geological experts decided that survey of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir villages will be conducted. They mutually agreed upon using Google and geological maps to conduct the survey.
The survey of the areas has already started and will be completed in two to three days. After the survey is completed, a report will be sent to Islamabad and Kabul. The decision to open the border will also be made once the survey is completed, the participants decided.
The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, also discussed other issues pertaining to the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. On Saturday, Pakistani and Afghan authorities mooted over the control of the areas, Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir, affected during firing and shelling by the Afghan forces on Friday, which ended in a stalemate.
During the second meeting after the firing incident at the border, the Afghan authorities were of the view that Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir fell under their jurisdiction. But the Pakistani officials confirmed that the areas were situated within the Pakistani territory which could be verified from the Google maps.
In response to border clashes, people living in the villages situated near the Chaman border started to move out to safer places after authorities advised it was no longer safe for them to stay. According to officials, nearly 10,000 locals have left their houses so far.
There are around 8-10 villages situated on the border belt; according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, 2,000 homes were affected by the shelling and firing from the Afghan side. The authority also distributed relief goods among the affected people.
The Bab-e-Dosti Gate situated on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Chaman remained closed on the third day following the firing incident. The army and the paramilitary forces were deployed at the border to monitor the situation and also stop people from crossing the border. Even trucks carrying goods are not being allowed to cross the border.
Talking to a TV channel, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was internationally recognised border, and its management was vital to control terrorism. He said that terrorism was a common threat to both the countries and peace could not be maintained without securing the border between them.
On its part, Pakistan had been taking measures for the border management, but Afghanistan had taken no step in that regard, he said. Being a peace loving country, Pakistan has a policy to maintain good relations with all its neighbouring countries, he said, adding that some foreign elements were creating hurdles in the peace process between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Zakaria stressed the need for resolving issues through dialogue between the two countries. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were fighting against terrorism and there was need for further united efforts to combat the menace.
To a question about Afghan attack on border areas, he said that the Afghan government had been informed through diplomatic channels that national census was being conducted in Pakistan and the teams would be visiting the border areas for the purpose. “Pakistan is a sovereign country and has a right to take measures for protecting its national security,” he said.
