Nicholson, Raheel discuss Pak-Afghan border issue

Top US commander in Afghanistan lauds Pakistan’s role against terrorism

ISLAMABAD: The top US commander heading troops stationed in Afghanistan met with army chief General Raheel Sharif in Rawalpindi on Wednesday to discuss a mechanism for border management along the Pak-Afghan border and review efforts seeking revival of the stalled peace talks.

This was the second visit in a week by General John Nicholson, Commander of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Gen Nicholson had travelled to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on July 14 to inform the army chief that the mastermind of the December 2014 deadly attack on the Army Public School, Umar Naray alias Khalifa Mansoor, was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

However, it was not clear what prompted the top US general to visit Pakistan again in less than a week.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the two military commanders during their meeting discussed regional security issues and matters of mutual interest including border management mechanism along Pak-Afghanistan border and way forward for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

“The visiting dignitary lauded the role of Pakistan Armed Forces in breaking the nexus of terrorists and efforts for bringing peace in the region,” the military’s media wing added.

While the US and Pakistan military leaders interact regularly on the current Afghan situation, the stalemate in ties between Kabul and Islamabad still persists.

Officials said Afghanistan was not forthcoming to recent Pakistani efforts seeking amicable solution to issues such as border management.

At least one Pakistani officer was killed and many others injured when Afghan security forces resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ at the Torkham border in June when Islamabad started building a gate on its side of the border.

The Afghan move was aimed at forcing Pakistan to stop construction of the gate. The gate is part of new border controls Pakistan has started implementing from June.

Afghanistan, however, has objected to the move insisting that Pakistan went ahead with its decision unilaterally without developing any understanding with the neighbouring country.

Pakistan rejected Afghanistan’s concerns and made it clear that it will not compromise on the border management, a key element of its counter-terrorism strategy.

Last month, the two sides agreed to establish a high-level ministerial mechanism to discuss issues related to border management and security.

However, foreign ministers from both sides have yet to fix a date for the maiden meeting of that mechanism with Afghanistan reluctant to finalise terms of reference for the bilateral initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.