Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that the Afghan authorities have tried to set up a border post on the Pakistani side of Torkham.
This development follows the closure of Torkham’s border crossing last Friday, which caused significant disturbances, Express News reported.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed these efforts during a weekly briefing, highlighting the challenges on the border.
Shafqat Ali Khan explained that the Afghan authorities were trying to create a post on the Pakistani side of the border, which would have been a violation of existing protocols.
The Pakistani government has officially raised concerns to the Afghan authorities and urged them to resolve the issue by dialogue and negotiations. “We have told the Afghan authorities that this question can be settled by appropriate discussions,” said Shafqat Ali Khan.
This attempt to establish a border post is part of a broader problem of the management of the borders between the two nations. Pakistan has said that several agencies are involved in the management of border security and ensuring that no unilateral measure is taken by one or the other country that could affect the overall security of the region.
Shafqat Ali Khan also responded to concerns about American military equipment left in Afghanistan, which is used by terrorist groups.
“Advanced American weapons left in Afghanistan are now used by terrorists, and some of them are even smuggled in Pakistan,” said Shafqat Ali Khan, further emphasizing the security threat posed by these weapons.
In addition, Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed that eight Pakistanis had been expelled from the United States and returned to Pakistan. The details of their identity are managed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Pakistan works with the American authorities to facilitate the return of these citizens.
Shafqat Ali Khan also discussed recent diplomatic commitments, including high -level visits and discussions with international leaders. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen his ties with countries such as Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates.
He also mentioned the importance of another dialogue concerning the role of Afghanistan in the support of terrorism and its continuous instability.
Regarding the closure of Torkham’s borders, Shafqat Ali Khan described it as a complex problem involving several agencies and urged all parties to seek a friendly solution to avoid new disruptions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the situation closely and is in contact with the Afghan authorities to resolve the border dispute.
