Afghan general summons Pakistani ambassador over border tensions

[abrar khan]

Dawn News:
Afghanistan has asked Pakistan to reopen the border and de-escalate tensions between the two neighbouring countries, read a press release issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The release said Ambassador to Afghanistan Abrar Hussain and Afghan Deputy Commander-in-Chief General Murad Ali Murad met on Feb 27, and that Gen Murad had "requested [Islamabad] for de-escalation at the border and reopening of the crossing points between the two countries".

The crossings were shut two weeks ago following a string of bombings in Pakistan that the country's leadership blames on militants who sneak across the porous boundary to carry out attacks on its soil.

Gen Murad had also highlighted challenges "due to closure of the border and cross-border shelling from Pakistan", seeking the country's help to reduce tensions between the two states.

"He also promised to take action against terrorists on the basis of shared information," the statement added.

Ambassador Hussain, in his response, briefed Gen Murad about the circumstances motivating Pakistan's actions, underlining that "Afghan nationals were involved in recent attacks in the country".

He stressed that Afghanistan should take appropriate measures to deny "use of its soil by terrorists against Pakistan".

Hussain said that the border was closed to prevent the movement of terrorists from across the border.

He also stressed on the need for efforts by both countries to strengthen border management.

The ambassador, however, promised to transmit Afghanistan's requests to Islamabad.

Afghan envoy appeals on Pakistan to reopen border crossings
Afghanistan's envoy to Islamabad also appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for reopening the border crossings between their two countries.

Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal made the appeal to the Pakistani premier during his speech on Wednesday at the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organisation summit held in Islamabad.

Zakhilwal said the crossings' closure has caused hardship to the Afghan people.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

wow, they are really begging for us to open the border. Even their generals are summoning the ambassador.

We could consider opening it once the 70 terrorists are handed over, a military operation against anti-Pak terrorists is started, and the half a dozen Indian consulates are closed.

 

[ABCharlie]

Summon again? The ambassador should just change his name from Abrar Hussain to Saman Hussain.

 

[Zibago]

Afghan general summons Pak envoy over border closure
March 02, 2017


ISLAMABAD - Afghanistan military has summoned Pakistan Ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain in Kabul to discuss the ongoing Pak-Afghan tension, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

A statement released by the foreign ministry here yesterday said that Hussain was “invited through Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a meeting with General Murad Ali Murad, Deputy Chief of Staff, at Ministry of Defence on 27 February 2017. Defence Attaché Brig Farooq Zaman also accompanied the ambassador.”

During the meeting, it said: “General Murad requested for de-escalation at the border and reopening of the crossing points between the two countries.”

Highlighting the sufferings of people due to closure of the border and cross-border shelling from Pakistan, he sought reduction in tensions. He also promised to take action against terrorists on the basis of shared information, the statement said.

Ambassador Hussain, in his response, briefed on the circumstances behind the actions taken by Pakistan, it added.

He said Afghan nationals were involved in recent attacks in Pakistan and stressed that Afghanistan should take appropriate measures for denying use of its soil by terrorists against Pakistan.

He informed that the border was closed to prevent crossing by terrorists. He stressed the need for efforts by both the countries to strengthen border management. The ambassador, however, promised to transmit the Afghan requests to Islamabad.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had skipped the yesterday’s Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit in Islamabad but Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal represented his country as the special envoy.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan used ECO Summit to call on Pakistan to reopen border crossings between the two countries, saying barriers on trade, transit and the movement of people defy stated objectives of promoting economic cooperation among participating nations.

Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, who represented his government at the conference, underscored the need for separating economics from politics to promote the ECO mission of regional connectivity for economic prosperity.

“They [border crossings with Pakistan] have now been closed for about two weeks, causing enormous hardship to ordinary people and damage to traders on both sides. We cannot be for regional connectivity if at the same time we continue to implement barriers to trade, transit and movement of people between us,” he said.

“Honourable Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in the spirit of today’s summit…, it will be the right message if your excellency instruct the opening of our formal trade and transit routes between our two brotherly countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said Zakhilwal.
http://nation.com.pk/editors-picks/02-Mar-2017/afghan-general-summons-pak-envoy-over-border-closure

 

[Pakistan First]

Action on the part of Afghans first. Any talks about opening the border will come after that.

 

[Counterpunch]

If you become as light and as available as Air, they tend to fart you out rather than breathe you. That is how stinking these neighbors are. So keep the noose tight until we have some kind of sureties that there won't be any backing of ttp scums. Till then the show should continue; our Government has hit the right chord!

 

[Max]

show us some action on our demand (76 terrorist and border management), we will open the border..

 

[ali_raza]

not long ago they refused to attend ECo summit.

 

[abrar khan]

wow, they are really begging for us to open the border. Even their generals are summoning the ambassador.

We could consider opening it once the 70 terrorists are handed over, a military operation against anti-Pak terrorists is started, and the half a dozen Indian consulates are closed.

They are requesting because NATO has given them a good f***k to restore the relation ASAP as their supplies through Pak are also stopped.

 

[I.R.A]

Hmmmmm sometime ago Ghani had threatened Pakistan with isolation (one billion dollar was the price) .......... well he must have forgotten how isolation in actual looks like.

Well to be honest the day Kabul is superior militarily than Pakistan would be the day these same 2 takkay kay Kabuli Generals won't hesitate invading Pakistan.

 

[abrar khan]

Just look what alternates routes available to NATO supplies or if Afghan Govt wants to OP.
The easiest land route for supplies and military equipment into Afghanistan is by ship to the Pakistani port of Karachi, and then by truck through Pakistan and into Afghanistan.

But militant attacks have forced the U.S. and other Western forces to look for alternatives through central Asia and Russia into northern Afghanistan.

Following are some facts about the Pakistani routes and the alternatives:

THE ROUTES AND SUPPLIES

There are two routes through Pakistan into Afghanistan, one through the Khyber Pass in northwest Pakistan to the border town of Torkham and on to Kabul. The other goes through Pakistan's Baluchistan province to the border town of Chaman and on to the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

The U.S. military and NATO have not given details of the supplies they get via Pakistan or a breakdown of how much comes on the two routes. The U.S. Defense Department says the U.S. military sends 75 percent of supplies for the Afghan war through or over Pakistan, including 40 percent of fuel.

US had been reached for new transport routes for Western Forces into northern Afghanistan through Central Asian states and Russia. He did not give details.

Apart from Pakistan, Afghanistan has a border with Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north, and a sliver of remote mountainous territory with China in the far northeast.

Afghan-bound supplies coming by ship would have to dock at ports in the Mediterranean (Turkey), the Black Sea (Russia or Georgia), or at other Russian ports.

From Russia, goods would most likely have to cross Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and into northern Afghanistan.

Another possibility for goods off-loaded in Georgia or Turkey could be through Azerbaijan, then across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan and then into northwest Afghanistan.

Iran could provide a convenient and cheap link from its port of Chabahar to western Afghanistan but tense ties with the United States would appear to rule out that route for military supplies for the U.S.-led effort in Afghanistan.
Courtesy:
(Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Jerry Norton)
But this alternate route is too much expensive involves several port for clearance. Now a days Russia US relations are getting worst therefore using central Asian ports will be difficult.