Disputed Afghan-Pakistan border reopens after fighting
June 21
22:28 2016
By Christina Harvey
Afghan authorities insisted the construction was taking place in a disputed territory and violated mutual understandings.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai underscored the need for a peaceful solution to issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pakistan side was represented by Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
Pakistani and Afghan officials held talks on Monday on border management at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Islamabad.
A Pakistani official who declined to be named said the border had reopened last week and "the construction work on the gate has also resumed".
A statement issued here on Sunday said the customs department cleared 427 vehicles crossing the Torkham border from both sides on Saturday and Sunday.
Pakistan reopened the busy Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan for traffic Saturday, a week after deadly clashes between the two countries prompted the closure, stranding thousands of travelers and trade convoys on both sides.
The main gate at Torkham, the most frequented official border crossing at the end of the Khyber Pass, has been closed since June 11, leaving thousands of people stranded on either side.
"It is a wrong perception that Pakistan's foreign policy has failed and that it is becoming isolated", he said while responding to motions of the opposition regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their criticism of the country's foreign policy in the National Assembly. S. continues to support the re-invigorated efforts of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, which includes the Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese governments, to set conditions for an eventual Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process with the Taliban and other militant groups.
In regards to the recent border tensions with Afghanistan, Aziz said, "A strong and regulated border is in the interest of both the countries". They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
That plan to build a barrier angered Afghanistan which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893 and does not want a solid recognition of the boundary. The editorial in New York Times of May 12, 2016 urged the United States government to "put the squeeze on Pakistan" for continuing to play a double game in its dealings with the USA and Afghanistan, also pointing out the Dollars 33 billion "immense" aid already given by U.S. to Pakistan for fighting terrorism in the region.
"We can only bring Taliban to the negotiating table using our influence, but ultimately Afghanistan has to talk with them, they (Afghan government) should strengthen their position on the ground and secondly they should offer them (Taliban) something which they cannot gain on the battlefield".
/ wingatewire . co\ /2016/06/21 /disputed -afghan-pakistan-border-reopens-after-fighting/