Syeda Mazhar
The bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are getting from bad to worse since both countries have been blaming each other for failing to stop the Taliban across the porous border dividing them internationally. Pakistan has already suffered much due to Afghanistan’s in adequate action against the Taliban who crossed over and caused massacre in Army Public School incident in Peshawar in December 2014. Despite Pakistan’s readiness to make a fresh start in relations with Kabul, there is a lack of reciprocity and goodwill. However this is nothing new for Pakistan. Pakistan has always been a victim of being used and abused in almost all its international relations. Be it the giant USA which mercilessly used Pakistan for its fight against terrorism then dropped it like a hot potato or be it the minions Bangladesh who even after 45 years of independence are putting to trial innocent people under false claims and fake condemnations to satisfy their own agenda hoping to change the actual history.
Although Pakistan and Afghanistan share the same religion terrain and even to some extent socio political problems, Pakistan has already paid the price of their friendship by hosting the Afghan refugees since the last three decades. These refugees have not developed a firm foothold in Pakistan, they carry Pakistan identity and in some cases passport as well, and have time and again breached the trust Pakistan have shown them by creating mischief internationally under the banner of Pakistani flagship thus defaming us. It is high time that these refugees should go back to their own homes or why not test their new friend Iran and India’s hospitality and ask them accommodate them for a change. Their lack of gratitude towards Pakistan is appalling when Pakistan has already housed two generations of Afghans. It is apparent that Ashraf Ghani has weakly surrendered to the satanic whispering of Narendra Modi and will now have to pay its price.
Therefore, border management is an important issue for both countries as previously people living near border areas of both countries entered without any legal documents.Thus, a new mechanism has been imposed by Pakistani authorities over border crossing points that ensure every Afghan entrant in Pakistan carries legal travel documents. Pakistani officials argued that improving border management is necessary to stop the militants crossing border with locals for terrorist activities while it has become a serioussecurity issue for both countries. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has long remained porous and disputed. Afghanistan has blocked repeated attempts by Pakistan to build a fence on sections of the roughly 2,200-km (1,370-mile) long frontier, rejecting the contours of the boundary.
The latest reaction from the Afghan forcescame at a time when a gate was being made at the Torkham border in order to prevent infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Security officials state that firing was done by the Afghan forces after regular intervals.
“The firing was aimed at disrupting the construction of a gate well inside Pakistani territory at the border. The gate is being constructed to facilitate the cross-border movement of people and vehicles. It was conveyed to the Afghan side that the regulation of movements at Torkham is part of government’s policy to strengthenborder management. Therefore, Afghan government’s cooperation was needed as it would enhance mutual security and help combat the threat of terrorism,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
Earlier on Monday, Afghan Charge d’Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Pakistan’s strong protest over unprovoked firing by the Afghan forces at Pakistani forces on Torkham border crossing. At least fourteen people including two soldiers have been injured in the firing incident. He was told that the firing incident was contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan side was urged to thoroughly investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistani authorities. It was further emphasized that all steps should be taken for avoiding recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Afghan forces continued unrestrained firing near the Torkham border for a second consecutive day however, the Afghan forces were given a befitting reply from the Pakistani security forces which silenced the Afghan gunson Monday.As a result of increase in tensions near the border area, curfew has been imposed in Torkham and Landi Kotal whereas a number of villages have been evacuated and emergency has been declared in hospitals.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department on Twitter, the gate at the Torkham border was being constructed in the Pakistani region as it is 37 metres within the country’s territory. ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa stated that Afghan security forces were firing at the gate. He further stated that the gate was necessary to conduct interrogation from the ones crossing the border. Another purpose of the construction of the gate was to maintain check over the movement of the terrorists.
Army Chief General Raheel Shareef attended funeral prayers on Tuesday for Major Jawad Ali Changezi, who was among the nine Pakistani and six Afghan Troops wounded in fighting. The death of Major Jawad has escalated tensions and a senior military official has stated that the gate at Torkahm will now be built at any cost as was agreed upon by both sides during a bilateral meeting.
