Angoor Adda crossing not handed over to Afghanistan, says foreign secretary

Pakistan Army constructed a gate for the Kabul government in Afghan area as a gift: Aizaz Chaudhry

Rejecting earlier claims, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said on Monday that Angoor Adda, the border crossing facility in South Waziristan, had not been handed over to Afghanistan.

While briefing the Senate Standing Committee on defence and foreign affairs in Islamabad, the foreign secretary said Pakistan Army had just constructed a gate for the Kabul government in Afghan area as a ‘gift’.



Pakistan had earlier announced that the checkpost had been handed over to the Afghan authorities.

According to an official statement, the ‘purpose-built’ crossing facility at Angoor Adda was handed over to Afghan authorities “to strengthen brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and … to improve border management.”



The statement hours after heavy armed clashes broke out at the Torkham border on Sunday night as Afghan security forces resorted to unprovoked firing injuring two people, officials said.

According to security officials and locals, workers were building a gate on the Pakistani side of the Torkham border when they came under fire from the Afghan side.

Meanwhile, the ISPR said Afghans fired at the under-construction gate on the Pakistani side of the border.

Lt Gen Asim Bajwa also shared the layout of the border gate.

Afgns firing at Torkham on under construction gate by Pak on Pakistani side.As explained in pic,Gate is 37 Meters inside Pak-1

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 13, 2016

This gate considered essential to check&verify documentation of all border crossers.will check move of terrorists-2 pic.twitter.com/upYxjlboQI

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 13, 2016