It's not the first time, and probably not the last time, that
Pakistan has tried to stoke the flames of war in the troubled country.
What starts as intermittent exchange of fire can sometimes
escalate to a full-blown war with far-reaching consequences. Over the past one
week, these fears were ignited when estranged neighbours Pakistan and
Afghanistan resorted to brinkmanship, flexed their military muscle and fired
artillery at the Torkham border, leading to many casualties.
After
four days of hectic negotiations, the two sides finally blinked and agreed to de-escalate the blazing military and political
tensions, thus averting the inevitable. Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the
governor of Nangarhar, said there were "central and regional level
negotiations" to break the deadlock.
It all started after Pakistani border rangers started constructing a gate too close to the disputed border,
beyond the Zero Line, which Afghan troops saw as a blatant violation of the
bilateral agreement and international law. In the ensuing clashes, both sides
suffered casualties.
As the news broke out, doves in Kabul extended an olive branch
to hawks in Islamabad, calling for a truce. Omar Zakhilwal, the newly appointed
Afghan envoy to Islamabad and the former finance minister, held a series of closed-door meetings with the top political and military
officials of Pakistan in a bid to prevent the escalation of violence.
While Pakistan insisted on building a barrier at the border
crossing "to prevent
terrorists' entry into Pakistan", Afghanistan took umbrage
because it does not recognize the colonial-era Durand Line drawn up in 1893.
Torkham connects eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan with Pakistan's
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
For almost a week, both sides refused to back down from their
respective positions. Zakhilwal even threatened to resign and reveal the details of his
closed-door meetings with Pakistani officials. He dismissed reports that he had
earlier agreed to the construction of the gate at Torkham.
On Saturday, the border was reopened after six days, much to the relief of
stranded truck drivers and traders. On Monday, an Afghan delegation led by
deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai visited Islamabad to
discuss the Torkham border issue.
It's not the first time, and probably not the last time, that
Pakistan has tried to stoke the flames of war in the troubled country. Border
incursions and setting up of military bunkers by Pakistani troops along the
border in eastern and southern provinces has always been a matter of
consternation for the Afghan government.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat. Before
that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and Spinboldak
districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up
of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not limited to border incursions. For the
past several years, Pakistan has frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan
provinces, killing civilians and security forces and rendering many others
homeless. A large number of people in these border provinces -- mainly Kunar,
Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have been forced to evacuate their homes and
move to safer locations.
Former
Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned by Parliament last
year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian
district in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a
woman, were killed in the shelling.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat.
Before that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and
Spinboldak districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up
of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not limited to border incursions. For the
past several years, Pakistan has frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan
provinces, killing civilians and security forces and rendering many others
homeless. A large number of people in these border provinces -- mainly Kunar,
Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have been forced to evacuate their homes and
move to safer locations.
Former
Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned by Parliament last
year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian
district in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a
woman, were killed in the shelling.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat.
Before that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and
Spinboldak districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not
limited to border incursions. For the past several years, Pakistan has
frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan provinces, killing civilians and
security forces and rendering many others homeless. A large number of people in
these border provinces -- mainly Kunar, Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have
been forced to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations.
Former Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned
by Parliament last year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian district
in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a woman,
were killed in the shelling.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat.
Before that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and
Spinboldak districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not
limited to border incursions. For the past several years, Pakistan has
frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan provinces, killing civilians and
security forces and rendering many others homeless. A large number of people in
these border provinces -- mainly Kunar, Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have
been forced to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations.
Former Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned
by Parliament last year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian
district in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a
woman, were killed in the shelling.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat.
Before that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and
Spinboldak districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not
limited to border incursions. For the past several years, Pakistan has
frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan provinces, killing civilians and
security forces and rendering many others homeless. A large number of people in
these border provinces -- mainly Kunar, Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have
been forced to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations.
Former Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned
by Parliament last year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian
district in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a
woman, were killed in the shelling.
Earlier last year, Pakistani rangers had established check posts in Maroof district of southern
Kandahar province before the Afghan border police forced them to retreat.
Before that, some Pakistani rangers had secretly crossed into Goshta and
Spinboldak districts of eastern Nangarhar province and built small military
bases there. In July
last year, Pakistani forces had tried to build illegal
constructions in the
border district of Barmal in southern Paktika province. In the ensuing
firefight, one Afghan police commander was killed.
Pakistan's stirring up of trouble in Afghanistan, though, is not
limited to border incursions. For the past several years, Pakistan has
frequently fired rockets into bordering Afghan provinces, killing civilians and
security forces and rendering many others homeless. A large number of people in
these border provinces -- mainly Kunar, Nuristan, Paktika and Nangarhar -- have
been forced to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations.
Former Afghan army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi, who was summoned
by Parliament last year, said these attacks are used as "pressure
tactics" by Pakistan to
force Afghanistan into recognizing the Durand Line as an international border.
Pakistan's envoy to Kabul has been summoned by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairsmany times since last year to register protest
against the continued border incursions and cross-border shelling by Pakistani
troops. In July last year, deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai took reacted strongly to the
mortar shelling in
Speen Zhay, Dwa Khula, Chunchro Tangai and Kamary Lakar areas of Nazian district
in eastern Nangarhar province. At least three civilians, including a woman,
were killed in the shelling.
In August last year, hundreds of people including tribal elders
and local political leaders gathered in Khad Al Jadid area of Kandahar city to protest against the
cross-border shelling by
Pakistan. A few days later, a large number of people carried out a protest
march in Asadabad city of eastern Kunar province against the border shelling by
Pakistani troops. Similar protests have been held in many other parts of the
country, denouncing Pakistan's adventurism.
The
political and diplomatic ties between the two South Asian neighbours, once
described by the former Afghan president Hamid Karzai as "inseparable
brothers", have worsened in recent years. Karzai's successor Ashraf Ghani
had vowed to pursue the peace process with the support of Islamabad. At the London
Conference in December 2014, President Ghani said his government seeks regional
cooperation and has
started an "active engagement" with all neighbours, including
Pakistan.
Pakistani
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reciprocated by saying that he would not allow Pakistani
territory to be used for terrorist activities against Afghanistan. "If our
soil is used for terrorism activities against Afghanistan, we will take serious
action against the insurgents," he said.
However, he seems either incompetent or unwilling to stop
Pakistan-based militant groups from mounting attacks on Afghanistan. And more
importantly, he has failed to rein in his soldiers manning the border.
The author is a Kashmiri journalist based in Kabul. He can be
contacted at armaan.journo@gmail.com
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