No headway in talks on Torkham issue

Pakistan tells Afghanistan decision to reopen border crossing to be taken by federal govt

ISLAMABAD:

The main crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed on Sunday for the 5th day as talks between the two countries to reopen the border remained inconclusive.

The Torkham border crossing was shut on September 6 after an exchange of fire between the Pakistan and Afghan border security forces.

The clashes were triggered by the construction of a new post along the border by the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan deems this construction as a violation of understanding between the two countries.

The Afghan Taliban said at least 2 of their border guards were killed in the exchange of fire. The border has remained shut since then.

Read more: Torkham border shuts after Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmish

The two sides held talks to reopen the border on Sunday but these talks ended without any agreement.

Sources said the Pakistani side informed the Taliban officials that a decision to reopen the border would be taken by the federal government.

There is no official word yet from the government over the impasse. But officials privately said Pakistan would not accept any construction of post that challenges its territorial sovereignty.

The Afghan government on Saturday issued a statement expressing concerns over the closure of the border, saying it was causing huge losses to the businessmen. Kabul has sought negotiations to resolve the issue.

Hundreds of trucks and trawlers have remained stranded on both sides of the border crossing while people who use the route for travel have also been suffering since last Wednesday.

Read more: Torkham border crossing closed, residents report gunfire

The closure of the border following the clashes highlights the troubled relationship between Pakistan and the interim Afghan Taliban government.

The day Pakistan and Afghan forces exchanged fire at Torkham, hundreds of terrorists from across the border attacked border posts in Chitral district. At least 12 terrorists from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while 4 Pakistani security personnel embraced martyrdom.

On Saturday, Pakistani security forces and terrorists clashed in the general area of Chitral, leaving at least seven militants dead.

The latest encounter suggested that the TTP terrorists seem to have managed to enter Chitral.

Pakistan has also issued a demarche to the Afghan Charge D’affaires over the Chitral attack, asking Kabul to tackle the TTP threat. The Afghan Taliban spokesperson, however, denied Afghan soil was used in the Chitral attack.

The evidence suggested otherwise as the TTP chief could be seen in a video directing the militants, who carried out the Chitral attack. Pakistan seems to have hardened its stance on the TTP issue and has been putting pressure on the Afghan Taliban.

 Some observers believe that it is possible Pakistan has kept the Torkham border shut to pressure the Afghan Taliban into taking action against the TTP.

Torkham border crossing is a financial lifeline for landlocked Afghanistan.

Its closure means that the economic situation of Afghanistan would only worsen at a time when the Taliban regime is still under sanctions by the West.