Kabul protests flag-lowering ceremony at Pak-Afghan border

Frontier Corps has announced holding the ceremony at Pak-Afghan Friendship gate in Chaman every Friday

ISLAMABAD: Kabul has protested Islamabad’s decision to start flag-lowering ceremonies at Chaman border crossing in Balochistan, describing the move as “unjustified and contrary to previous pledges”.

Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan has announced it will hold flag-lowering ceremonies at the Pak-Afghan Friendship gate in Chaman every Friday.

The pattern of the ceremony would be similar to the flag-lowering ceremony held by Pakistan and India at the Wagah-Attari border. However, Afghanistan had refused to take part in the ceremony on the plea that it does not recognise the border and calls it “Durand Line”.

Afghan foreign ministry says it has lodged strong protest over the lowering of the flag by the Pakistani security forces at the zero-point of the "artificial Durand Line" and called it a "provocative action".



"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan wants to make it clear to Pakistan that since the relations between the two countries are passing through a sensitive period, such action could further deteriorate relations and increase the mistrust," an Afghan foreign ministry statement said on Friday.

During the first ever flag-lowering ceremony last Friday, FC Balochistan had announced it would hold the ceremonies every Friday at the Pak-Afghan Friendship gate in Chaman. Sector Commander FC North Brigadier Nadeem Sohail and Commandant FC Chaman also suggested the Afghan authorities to organise such ceremonies.

Speaking at the ceremony, Brigadier Sohail said, “Pakistan and Afghanistan are not only neighbours but they are also Muslim brotherly countries, who have a history of friendly ties".

The Afghan foreign ministry, however, urged Pakistan to "focus on fight against terrorism and extremism instead of such actions," which it said was the main hurdle in the way of peace and security. The ministry also opposed Islamabad's decision to make visa compulsory for the tribesmen to visit Afghanistan and described the decision as unilateral.