Truck queues back up after fighting closes Afghan-Pakistan border

The minister said we won’t face allegations of backing Haqqani Group and Afghan Shura if 30 million Afghan refugees return to their country.

Blaming Afghan security forces for “unprovoked firing”, Aziz said, “Afghan security forces started unprovoked firing on Sunday on Pakistani forces at Torkham border crossing with a view to disrupt the construction of facilities including a gate being undertaken by Pakistan well inside our territory”.

“We have shared our concern and disappointment with the Afghan government and have also urged them to take necessary steps to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future”, he said.

Afghan officials, however, denied any fighting on Wednesday, but said an Afghan border guard was killed and five were wounded overnight on Tuesday.

He said at a meeting of Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal with senior Pakistani officials, including Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, it was agreed that Afghan side will allow construction work to regulate movement of people and traffic across the border.

He also spoke about the importance of border management system and the Afghan part but suggested that durable peace could only be achieved through addressing the critical requirements to improve security and sustain stability.

He said that both the countries share common history, culture and religion and their destinies were interlinked.

The Adviser said that he invited National Security Adviser of Afghanistan and the Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani to visit Pakistan to discuss these matters and to remove any gaps in communication, or understanding. Even though the gate is being constructed at the Pakistani side, the Afghans are still not in favor of it and had objected to its construction.

That plan has angered Afghanistan which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893 and does not want a solid recognition of the boundary.

The weekend skirmishes have strained an already tense relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“We would like to reiterate that effective border management is vital for enhancing the security of both Afghanistan and Pakistan”, he added. He said both sides should accommodate each others and resolve the issue amicably as it was in the interest of both the neighbours.