Army continues gate construction at Torkham

TORKHAM, June 16: Pakistan Army has continued with the construction of a gate at Torkham border while Afghanistan government has assured of not interfering after four days of unprovoked firing, reported Thursday.
Curfew that was imposed earlier this week in Landi Kotal market and surrounding areas to protect civilians from shelling is maintaining today. However, long queues of vehicles are there on both the sides as movement came to a grind halt amidst tension.
Thousands of people cross Pakistan-Afghanistan border everyday for different purposes including trade. However, relatively unchecked cross-border movement between the two neighbours benefits extremist outfits which is why army, first, started fencing the border earlier this year which was opposed by Afghanistan and now construction of gate became another issue.
Reportedly, Afghanistan forces have vowed to not open unprovoked fire for unhindered construction of a gate that is around 37 metres inside Pakistan’s territory.
An army major named Ali Jawad Changezi lost his life in hospital after he was shifted there for treatment of injuries that he sustained in Afghan shelling.
Sources stated that the martyr was inspecting artillery positioned at the border when he was injured.
Two security personnel were injured on Wednesday taking the tally to over 15.
Earlier this week, both the aggressor and the defender, Afghanistan and Pakistan summoned each other’s ambassadors and lodged protests.
In a press briefing yesterday, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General, Asim Saleem Bajwa said that border management with Afghanistan was still a challenge and management mechanisms were the upcoming focus of the force.
Bawja stated that the gate at Torkham border was being constructed to check movement of the terrorists.
“Terrorists involved in Charsadda attack entered Pakistan through Torkham border,” he recalled.
A varsity in Charsadda called, Bacha Khan University was attacked on January 20 by Afghanistan militants that allegedly entered Pakistan through Torkham border. Over 20 lives were lost in the attack including a PhD professor.
The Director General said that the situation would have been different today if Afghanistan had neutralised the militants who escaped operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The army spokesperson reiterated that no one would be allowed to enter Pakistan without valid travel documents.-Agencies