A formal protest was also lodged PHOTO: AFP/FILE
A formal protest was also lodged amidst growing diplomatic tension between the two uneasy neighbours which also led to the cancellation of Afghan army officers' planned visit to Pakistan last week.
“Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jawed Ludin, spoke with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq this afternoon,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
“Ludin told Ambassador Sadiq that these activities are against all accepted international norms, provocative and unacceptable to the Afghan government, and that the government of Pakistan must halt them immediately,” an Afghan Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry quoted the Afghan border police reports as saying, “these unilateral activities began a while ago along the Durand Line near the villages of Hatam Kalai and Kodzarai in Goshta district”.
Ludin also expressed the Afghan government’s grave concern about alleged Pakistani rocket and artillery attacks in different areas of Kunar province over the past several days, and said the continuation of such attacks could negatively affect existing relations between the two countries.
“Ambassador Sadiq promised to convey all of the Afghan government’s concerns and demands to relevant authorities in Pakistan,” the Afghan Ministry said.
Afghanistan’s protest coincided with Pakistan Army Chief’s call on the top commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan to stop attacks into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani urged General Joseph F Dunford, Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), to ‘help Pakistan check cross-border attacks launched from inside Afghanistan.’
The heightened tension has raised serious concerns over the urgently needed peace process in the war-torn country to avoid any escalations before the 2014 pullout of NATO forces.
Afghan officials claimed that Pakistani forces fired nearly 50 rockets into eastern Afghan province of Kunar on March 25 and 26.
In return, the Afghan Foreign Ministry cancelled a planned trip to Pakistan by Afghan army officers for joint exercises. Pakistan described the decision as 'overreaction' to a local issue.
As the tension grew in recent days Aimal Faizi, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's spokesperson, accused Pakistan of "sabotaging efforts to end the Taliban's bloody 11- year insurgency."
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javed Ludin also claimed that some Afghan Taliban leaders who signified their intention to join in the peace process were either killed or arrested in Pakistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry clarified that Pakistani troops merely returned small arms fire at the specific directions from where the militants fired at the Pakistani border posts.
Islamabad has insisted that Pakistani militants, who had fled military offensive in Swat valley in the northwestern tribal belt, have routinely launched attacks on Pakistani posts and villages from Afghan border areas.
The Pakistani military says that at least 100 Pakistani security personnel and civilians have been killed in 20 militant attacks from Afghan side of the border in the past year.
Last month, Afghan forces arrested a senior Pakistani Taliban leader Maulvi Faqir Mohammad in eastern Nangarhar province.
COMMENTS (42)
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please build the wall and complete it as soon as possible no matter how much money it would take safety of pakistanis should be the first preference
@Zalmai: seriously dude, get a life.
@Zalmai, instead of telling me what my name is or isn't, why don't you rebuild the assortment of rocks you call a country before commenting on Pakistani Pashtuns?
FYI I have grown up with Pashtun migrant workers from rural KPK districts like Swabi, one of my best friends was from Waziristan with roots in Afghanistan, another was also from FATA. They were all proud Pakistanis. I know it's hard for you to grasp but Pashtuns love their country, in the late 60's as a large number were inducted into the civil service and military, the idea of Pakhtunistan died, and seeing how their brethern in the dust heap called Afghanistan live, even nationalist parties like the ANP support a federal Pakistan.
But I suppose logic is hard to receive from someone who lives in the same "west" he says Pakistan was created to serve, in fact in the same nation that funded the predecessors of the religious extremists currently ripping his "nation" apart.
You really think being Commander in Chief of the Army is a token position? Even Yahya's successor was Pashtun. I don't know about Afghanistan's military but being the head of our army is no laughing matter.
Please check the CSS exam results. You will find Pathans are extremely over represented in the civil service. In fact, with massive and continuing Pathan migration to Karachi and Punjab, they are being more and more intertwined into Pakistan, integration is the trend.
Look, if you want to analyse names that's fine, and I know there are no English news sites in Afghanistan, but really your exhausted and illogical tirades against a state in which your ethnicity is happy is just sad.
Lastly, the FCR is in place because the locals did not want integration into KP in 1947. I agree they are barbaric but as my Pashtun friend says "For all Pakistan is, it's still our country and we love it. There are jobs and a future" - until you can say the same for Afghanistan, your point is null and void.
ET: He attacked me and therefore I feel in the interests of debate you should allow a reply, especially as this topic is worth discussing.
@ Raj - USA
CORRECTION: Drug comment was directed at you, not @Zalmai.
@Zalmai:
Get over it. From one Pukhtun to another, leave Pakistani Pukhtuns alone. Your statements do not represent the views of KP Pukhtuns. You are the one who is brainwashed and blinded by the idea of a sovereign "Pukhtunistan". I am Pukhtun and my blood is of the Yousafzai tribe for over 5000 years. I have only been Pakistani since 1947 but am very proud of it. The country of Pakistan has given my family the opportunities that Afghanistan cannot even dream of ...not even in 50 years from now. I respect and admire Pukhtuns from Afghanistan as we share a culture and a heritage but we are two VERY different people. Pukhtuns in Pakistan are very well educated and hold high positions in the public and private sector. In Afghanistan, Pukhtuns are the majority but are represented as the minority in the economy and government. Afghan Pukhtuns are heavily concentrated in the rural areas with limited access to education. Pakistani Pukhtuns represent the modern and contemporary Pukhtun culture that deeply values its heritage but also contributes liberal and innovative input into the Pakistani society.
As for your drugs comment, yes it is a problem. Before you go off complaining about Pakistani labs, why don't you eliminate the root ingredient in your country? Pakistan is used by your nationals as a hub to export Afghan drugs and refugees abroad. You guys end up in countries like the US, Canada and Australia using the Pakistani passport and then end up bashing that country. Unfortunately for Pakistan, these countries end up lodging protests at Pakistani foreign missions for the influx of refugees and drugs...but in reality it is you Afghans who operate and benefit from it. As Pakistanis we just get blamed for it. How is that fair?
Stop associating yourself with KP Pukhtuns, you do not represent me or anyone from my province.
If my message is not clear here is a brief in Pukhto:
Zama khalak pasay khabaray mako, ta zamung khalko na ye ao na ba chera ye, za Pakistani Pukhtun yum.
@Shehryar
Where to start? Let's start with your handle Shehryar, it is Shahryar in Persian and you have corrupted this name from Shah to Sheh, which shows your limited knowledge of anything related to Pashto, Pashtuns, Dari/Farsi.
Ayub Khan was a Hindko speaking Punjabi and just because someone adds Khan to their name does not make them Pashtun. Even if they were Pashtun what did they do for the Pashtuns living in the reservations called FATA, KPK, Waziristan and Balochistan, which are also piles of rocks, not the beacon of civilization that you deem Pakistan in comparison to Afghanistan.
Pashtuns in Pakistan were deprived of learning their own language in schools until recently and their province was called NWFP until a few years ago. Pashtuns are the only people still subjected to colonial laws like Frontier Crimes Regulation and you speak of integration. You are delusional. One more thing, get the nomenclature right Pashto speakers are referred to as Pashtuns not Pathans.
You live in Islamabad and know a handful of Pashtuns that are integrated, what about the millions of others that live in areas that are piles of rocks. Stop fooling yourself that Pashtuns are integrated because a handful of them were given token positions of power by Punjabis.
@Zalmai. Where to start?
For one I'll point out that not a single Pakistani Pashtun has ever agreed with you on this forum.
You parrot this absurd Afghan version of affairs in which Punjabis live to oppress Pakistani Pashtuns. The fact is Pakhtuns are over represented in the military (30% vs a population of 15%) and the civil service. Pakistan has seen 3 Pashtun presidents - Ayub, Yahya, Ghulam Ishaq Khan - all of whom have left their mark on Pakistan. Pashtuns are well Integrated Pakistanis.
And who are Afghans to be spokesmen for our Pashtuns? As your own nation lies in ruins you have made yourself a self appointed spokeperson for a community which has neither asked for our assistance or commentary nor needs it. Pakhtunkwa alone has a larger economy than your state. Pakistan has allowed Pashtuns to thrive, whereas Afghanistan has defamed them altogether. hh I grew up around Pashtuns who spoke Pashto and loved their culture and ethnic identity fiercely, while also ffeeling themselves to be true Pakistanis. I personally am Kashmiri. Pakistan is for everyone.
You sit in America typing away these absurd statements while I live in Islamabad, which is around 20% Pathan. I love the diversity. Pashtuns don't need you as a spokesperson. It's disingenuous when Afghanistan is basically a pile of rocks to be complaining about "Punjabi domination"
ET: If you can publish Zalmai's comments and Indian's comments, I challenge you to show your credentials as an avenue of freedom and debate to publish mine.
@Ammar: I agree IPI pipeline will be good had it materialized. TAPI is just a distant dream now. However, I do not support Iran going nuclear under the regime they now have. A moderate Iran would not have been a problem for me.
On the Afghan refugees, I know from many of my Afghan friends that the Afghans had very high regard and goodwill for Pakistan for helping them out in the beginning of the soviet invasion. However, the creation of talibans has brought difficulties in the relationship and talibans of all factions needs to be wiped out.
On the question of drugs, yes, this is going to be much serious problem for both Afghanistan and Pakistan and will affect India and Iran too. However, Pakistan can play its important role here by wiping out the drug laboratories and controlling the chemicals necessary to produce the drugs. Afghanistan cultivates poppy crops but drugs are processed in Pakistan laboratories and also smuggled through Pakistan. Controlling smuggling may be difficult but wiping out the laboratories and controlling the chemicals is not that much difficult. Much has been exposed in the ephedrine scandal but Musa Gilani and Hanif Abasi are yet to face any action.
Disingenuous Pakistanis always take things out of context and bring up the issue of Afghan refugees whenever there is trouble with the Afghans. Afghan refugees contribute to the economy and that is why the Pakistani government will never fully repatriate them because that would devastate the economy of KP.
I am not surprised by the narrative expressed by Pakistanis on this forum because most are brainwashed and want to look at everything from their own Punjabi prism.
KP is Afghan territory and Pakistan is a colonial construct that has divided the Pashtuns on one side and the Punjabis on the other side to serve western interests in the region.
Pakistan: A vanishing state by Shabbir Ahmad Khan elucidates on this topic very eloquently.
"Two questions are important to answer the above-mentioned query. Who creates states and what is their rationale — i.e., the cause of their birth? More than 140 states got independence after the two world wars. The winners of the wars designed the world map by decolonising nations. The process of giving self-rule to new states was intentional and purposeful. British rulers, in congruence with the US, wanted to split India for their long-term interests in the region. In my opinion, Pakistan — the same way as the state of Israel — was created as an independent state to guard Western interests in the region. In both times of war and peace in history, Pakistan proved herself as the guardian of vested interests of Western powers."
History repeats itself and it is only a matter of time when things revert back to the natural order of things. Pashtuns and Punjabis together in one state is a joke and only brainwashed and subservient Pashtuns are okay with this set up and that is why Pakistan unleashed proxies on Afghanistan and India because they fear being turned into a moth eaten sliver of a state, which is inevitable.
Lucky India who has Panjab&KP as a bufferzone between them and the stoneage people!
Its enough. Unthankful afghans enjoying the good life in Punjab, KP and Sindh while creating problems for us every day. Its enough. Close them down completly. No one enters from Afg.
if only this wall was built ages back , there wouldn't have been a 'bin qasim'
Why dont Afghanistan say somethings when cross border attacks are carried out from Afghan side with total ease.They attack and run back to their safe havens in Afghanistan without any hinderance.We have been taking the burden of millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan since 3 decades, the only lifeline of Afghanistan is through Pakistan but the ungrateful neighbours still hold us responsible.Its the time that we regulate the whole Durand line.By doing so neither Tirah would fall to terrorists nor there would be any unrest un Tribal areas, KPK and Balochistan in particular and Pakistan in general.
All illegally residing Afghan nationals have to be repatriated (in a humane and dignified way) back to Afghanistan. There needs to be a mechanism in partnership with the UN for the swift and efficient return of the legally residing refugees. ISAF is withdrawing as they believe Afghanistan is stable enough for them to withdraw. European countries routinely repatriate illegal Afghan refugees back to their homeland. There is no reason for such a large number of people, who have had such a dramatic effect on the fabric of Pakistan, should continue to stay. Of course genuine refugees who are in real danger, should be given all legal rights and protection.
@Raj - USA:
Don't worry about Afghanistan and Iran; we want good relations with India. Come and join hands to build IPI gas pipeline. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, we have sacrificed both in terms of money and sheltering Afghan Refugees in Pakistan for almost 34 years now. We also have borne and still bearing associated costs (Drugs and Violence) of sheltering Afghan Refugees. So don’t worry about our troubles with Afghanistan, we will fight our troubles through. You just think about good friendly relations with Pakistan. I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Afghanistan is wasting its time on this protest because Pakistan has full authority to build any protective walls within its territory without any Afghanistan's permission and Afghanistan doesn't have any rights to record its protest over it........
This border wall is long overdue. It was earlier planned by Musharraf but with Afghanistan and USA vehemently protesting its construction, it went into cold storage. The sooner it is built the better for all of us.
This is similar to Hadrian's Wall built in Britain by the Roman emperor Hadrian to define the limits of the Roman Empire.
Salams
@p r sharma: @Sterry: I think that Sterry did not mean financial help from US but help from US in persuading Afghanistan so that they do not to object the construction.
Glad to hear the Mexico of the east is being fenced off. Being a Pukhtun from Swabi, KP, Afghanistan has no right in Pakistani affairs. Please send back their refugees living off of our land and resources. Instead of bashing the country that fed you for 30+ years and go back to your "new and improved" Afghanistan. As a pukhtun from KP, I'm sick of these ungrateful moochers.
First good thing done by Pakistan in years. Think we should build a wall higher than great wall of china there.
Double the protection and send the illegal ones back.
There are only two options for peace in this region. One solution is in short term with immediate effect which follows long term solution. 1) Completely fence and guard the border wherever and as much possible, only routes should be via rail links and air travel, send back all the refugees, students must be treated and charged as foreign nationals. 2) Bring in FATA in to main stream and establish schools, universities, Hospitals and police stations even if under garrison areas initially.
@Shaami:
It will also be good for regional peace if Pakistan accepts the LOC as the international border between India and Pakistan and it will be a good starting point for long term better relations.
@Max: How does ur own medicine tastes....
The mouse that roared
Whatever Pakistan does US proxy in Afghanistan will have problem.
@Sterry: "If the US can build a big barrier along its southern border to prevent illegal Mexicans from entering its land, they should help Pakistan do the same."
Why expect US to help Pakistan to build the barrier across the afghan border.?
If Afghanistan was a stable country, it is a reasonable argument. Because mobilizing forces refers to be provocative features.
However, in today's scenario, Afghanistan actually needs Pakistani forces on border to curtail militancy. Therefore, either Afghanistan is behaving that it is stable enough and Pakistan should not mobilize its forces, or more possibly Afghanistan spokesperson got some words in his mouth from other elements to show off....
Afghan leader should learn all historic mistakes from day first when Ahmed Shah Abdali established modern Afghanistan to date.....they become expert of doing mistakes and through garbage of reasons over neighbors, at the moment on Iran and Pakistan. while happy to enjoy receiving aids from same neighbors and use traditional politics to exploit normal Afghans, who actually suffer.
Mulla Omar and talibans have never accepted Durand Line as the border. It is going to be very difficult for Pakistan after the withdrawal of US forces. Both Afghanistan and Iran will have a claim on Pakistan's territory. Pakistan will see the results of nurturing and supporting forces that are hostile to its neighbors. Alas, no one will shed any tears or support Pakistan, including China.
First Afghanistan hand over Pakistani fugitives and control Afghanistan itself then question Pakistan
Guys don't worry. I worked in Afghanistan before and you have to accept these kind of things from him. You guys have no idea that half of South Afghanistan is under de facto control of Tehran and it Iran who decides who gets appointed and where. North is controlled by war lords and the only territories Kabul can legit say they have control over are the areas around kabul
The Durand Line is not acceptable to Pashtuns on both sides. The treaty by Britisher Mr. Durand has already expired. So Pakistan should peacefully return all Pashtun areas to Afghanistan & shall refrain from provoking war.
Afghanistan protests translates to Karzai's incompetent, corrupt and.unpopular ministry protests. He holds 0 influence in Afghanistan and they.better get used to effective.border control measures from Pakistan
only construction?? lets build a berlin wall there......... and we have only fired 50 shells. it should be a constant bombing and special ops campaign against the TTP animals including fazullalah hiding in eastern afghanistan.
Finally, they're fencing the border. We have endured more than 40 years of Afghan migration, and with it the flow of weapons and drugs across the porous border. This is a welcome step by Pakistan.
Afghanistan's concerns should be allayed, but it is in the best short-term interest to control the border (even if its disputed) and then negotiate re-setting the Durand line. The status quo is unmanageable.
Why? When there is cross-border infiltration then they jump to blame Pakistan. And Pakistan does the same when gets attacked from infiltrators in Afghanistan. Isn't is a good step to fortify the border in efforts to control this problem?
yes pakistan should not do construction on disputed border else afghan reserve right to retaliate
Afghanistan and Pakistan can never be friends .Continue building wall all along the border and also mine them.
Come on Pakistan, take this side easy, we cannt afford another diturbed neighbhour
If Pakistan is building the wall to secure its porous border with Afghanistan, why does Afghanistan have a problem? It seems Afghanistan is being the aggressive party here. What an ungrateful neighbour!
So now even in their own Pakistani Territory Pakistani Army has to get permission from Afghanistan or What???. Afghanistan must accept the Durandline as the defacto border and this is the only way forward. Durand line non acceptance will led to war in future as Afghanistan lay claim on Peshawar and all of the Terriotory of KPK as a part of Afghanistan as they dont recognize Pak-Afgan Border. Pakistan must be prepared for future line of action against Non Acceptance of Pakistani Sovereignty by Afghanistan.