Reacting sharply to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's statement that Kabul will never recognise the Durand Line - the 2,640 kilometers long porous border between the two countries, Pakistan on Monday declared that Durand Line was a settled issue and opening debate on the matter was a distraction from the more pressing issues requiring mutual co-operation.
"Durand Line is a settled issue. Opening discussions on this issue is a distraction from the more pressing issues requiring the priority attention and co-operation of Pakistan and Afghanistan," said Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry while reacting to President Karzai's Saturday press conference in which he also called on the Taliban to "turn their weapons" against those who "plot" against Afghanistan.
To the portion to Karzai's statement in which he urged the militants to "stand with" Muhammad Qasim, an Afghan border policeman reportedly killed in a clash between Afghan and Pakistan troops on the border earlier this week and to turn their guns against those who are hostile against Afghanistan, the spokesman said that the continuing fight against terrorism and extremism warrants Pakistan, Afghanistan, and all other stakeholders to work together in a spirit of co-operation and harmony.
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry recalled that President Karzai had in the past asked Pakistan to use its influence on the Taliban to enter into dialogue for reconciliation process. Pakistan had responded positively to that call, he said, adding that Pakistan will continue its support for the Afghan reconciliation process, rather than focus on the negatives.
Referring to President Karzai's remark that he visited Pakistan 19 times, the spokesperson said that Pakistan's leadership has also travelled to Afghanistan several times to help build trust and strengthen bilateral relations. "Pakistan remains fully committed to assist in all sincerity to peace and sustainable economic development in Afghanistan, which we believe is in the vital interest of Pakistan and our region," he added.
About President Karzai's remarks regarding Pakistani posts on the border, the spokesperson recalled that Pakistani post in Gursal had come under attack from Afghan forces and there had been several threatening and provocative statements made by Afghan leadership in this regard.
He reiterated that the posts on Pakistan-Afghanistan border were serving a useful and mutually beneficial purpose of better border management, which is crucial for interdicting cross border undesirable activity. He reaffirmed the need to use bilateral channels including military to military contacts to resolve the issues relating to posts. In several high level interactions in recent past, the spokesman recalled that the leadership of the two countries is agreed on the imperatives of a mechanism for an effective border management for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The Foreign Office response came in the wake of the second clash between Afghan and Pakistani troops in less than a week on the border in Nangarhar province on Monday morning, which is the latest indication of a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbours. Reports claimed that three Afghan soldiers were injured as a result of the exchange of fire.
Meanwhile, according to a statement available at the official website of Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Afghan Director-General of the First Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Azizuddin Ahmadzada met with the Pakistani Charge d'Affaires in Kabul Shah Nazar Afridi on Monday at the Foreign Ministry.
Ahmadzada lodged the Afghan government's strong protest with Afridi about the unprovoked attack by Pakistani forces, who used both heavy and light weapons, against Afghan forces near the Durand Line in Goshta district, Nangarhar province this morning. The statement added that the Pakistani attack, which occurred at 8:20 am. Monday morning, did not result in any casualties to Afghan forces. "Ahmadzada clarified to Afridi that in case of Pakistani forces' continued refusal to remove all Pakistani installations at Goshta and other areas and any further unprovoked attacks by Pakistani forces, Pakistan will bear responsibility for any consequences," the statement added.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
AFPAK: ''Durand Line is a settled issue''
Reacting sharply to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's statement that Kabul will never recognise the Durand Line - the 2,640 kilometers long porous border between the two countries, Pakistan on Monday declared that Durand Line was a settled issue and opening debate on the matter was a distraction from the more pressing issues requiring mutual co-operation.
"Durand Line is a settled issue. Opening discussions on this issue is a distraction from the more pressing issues requiring the priority attention and co-operation of Pakistan and Afghanistan," said Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry while reacting to President Karzai's Saturday press conference in which he also called on the Taliban to "turn their weapons" against those who "plot" against Afghanistan.
To the portion to Karzai's statement in which he urged the militants to "stand with" Muhammad Qasim, an Afghan border policeman reportedly killed in a clash between Afghan and Pakistan troops on the border earlier this week and to turn their guns against those who are hostile against Afghanistan, the spokesman said that the continuing fight against terrorism and extremism warrants Pakistan, Afghanistan, and all other stakeholders to work together in a spirit of co-operation and harmony.
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry recalled that President Karzai had in the past asked Pakistan to use its influence on the Taliban to enter into dialogue for reconciliation process. Pakistan had responded positively to that call, he said, adding that Pakistan will continue its support for the Afghan reconciliation process, rather than focus on the negatives.
Referring to President Karzai's remark that he visited Pakistan 19 times, the spokesperson said that Pakistan's leadership has also travelled to Afghanistan several times to help build trust and strengthen bilateral relations. "Pakistan remains fully committed to assist in all sincerity to peace and sustainable economic development in Afghanistan, which we believe is in the vital interest of Pakistan and our region," he added.
About President Karzai's remarks regarding Pakistani posts on the border, the spokesperson recalled that Pakistani post in Gursal had come under attack from Afghan forces and there had been several threatening and provocative statements made by Afghan leadership in this regard.
He reiterated that the posts on Pakistan-Afghanistan border were serving a useful and mutually beneficial purpose of better border management, which is crucial for interdicting cross border undesirable activity. He reaffirmed the need to use bilateral channels including military to military contacts to resolve the issues relating to posts. In several high level interactions in recent past, the spokesman recalled that the leadership of the two countries is agreed on the imperatives of a mechanism for an effective border management for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The Foreign Office response came in the wake of the second clash between Afghan and Pakistani troops in less than a week on the border in Nangarhar province on Monday morning, which is the latest indication of a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighbours. Reports claimed that three Afghan soldiers were injured as a result of the exchange of fire.
Meanwhile, according to a statement available at the official website of Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Afghan Director-General of the First Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Azizuddin Ahmadzada met with the Pakistani Charge d'Affaires in Kabul Shah Nazar Afridi on Monday at the Foreign Ministry.
Ahmadzada lodged the Afghan government's strong protest with Afridi about the unprovoked attack by Pakistani forces, who used both heavy and light weapons, against Afghan forces near the Durand Line in Goshta district, Nangarhar province this morning. The statement added that the Pakistani attack, which occurred at 8:20 am. Monday morning, did not result in any casualties to Afghan forces. "Ahmadzada clarified to Afridi that in case of Pakistani forces' continued refusal to remove all Pakistani installations at Goshta and other areas and any further unprovoked attacks by Pakistani forces, Pakistan will bear responsibility for any consequences," the statement added.
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