- Adviser Sartaj asks Afghan envoy to addresses Pakistan’s reservations
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said that the Friendship Gate (Bab-e-Dosti) between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Chaman would not be opened till the Afghan government addresses Pakistan’s reservations.
He was talking to Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal who called on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the two sides focused on tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Adviser Sartaj told the Afghan ambassador that the Afghan forces targeted innocent citizens during the firing incident at Chaman. On the occasion, the ambassador assured the adviser that he would convey Pakistan’s reservations to the government in Kabul.
On May 5, at least 11 people were martyred and 46 injured when Afghan border forces opened fire on the paramilitary forces deployed for the security of a census team near the Chaman border. In response, the gate between the two countries at Chaman was closed.
On May 7, more than 50 Afghan soldiers were killed and about 100 injured when Pakistan retaliated to unprovoked firing and shelling by the Afghan forces at Chaman border, Frontier Corps Inspector General Major General Nadeem Ahmed said.
