Pakistan, Afghanistan deploy tanks as fencing dispute escalates

[Muhammad Omar]

LANDI KOTAL: Tension further heightened between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday and the two countries deployed tanks and armoured personnel carriers along the tense Torkham border besides sending more troops after their negotiating teams failed to resolve the border fencing dispute, political administration sources told Dawn.

The two countries have locked horns over the issue of fencing of some points at the border.

Pakistan has started fencing some vulnerable points of the border with Afghanistan to plug illegal and secret border crossings and movements of people.

The sources said that Pakistan sent army troops and additional Khasadar Force and Frontier Corps personnel on the border on Thursday in retaliation to Afghanistan’s reinforcement of its troops and border security forces along the border.

Afghanistan has objected to the border fencing and officially protested to Pakistan over the issue.

Because of the tense situation, the border remained closed for the third consecutive day.

Informed sources told Dawn that negotiating teams of the two countries briefly met at the Pakistan side of the border at around midday amid expectations that the issue would be resolved.

These expectations, however, proved short-lived as the meeting ended without reaching any agreement, much to the disappointment of scores of travellers and traders who have been stranded on both sides of the border for a couple of days.

The Pakistani team consisted of Sector Commander Brig Qayyum Paracha, Khyber Rifles Commandant Col Tariq Hafeez and Assistant Political Agent Rahimullah Mehsud while the Afghan team was represented by Border Police Commander Zabeehullah and Lt Col Nisar Ahmad.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

So they are also ready to have some Party... So Let the Party Begin

 

[Dalit]

Afghanistan has objected to the border fencing and officially protested to Pakistan over the issue.

Pakistan should go ahead with fencing the border with full force. Let's see who can stop us.

It is very good to see how serious Pakistan has become to address this problem.

 

[muhammadali233]

They have tanks?

 

[BDforever]

They have tanks?

yes, T-62 and T-55

 

[Sharpshooter12]

Not sure if Afghans have any MBTs, perhaps our media is confusing Humvees with Tanks.

Pakistan should keep on fencing the border, let them complain and try to stop it if they can. I don't think any other country will object to that as it is a legitimate security measure. Durand Line is an international border, whether Afghanis like it or not.

yes, T-62 and T-55

they don't have them mate.

 

[RazorMC]

Just build the fence anyways. Who cares what they think? They want illegal crossings to continue so they can keep smuggling weapons and drugs into Pakistan.

 

[BDforever]

they don't have them mate.

yes they have ....... question is can those tank fire ?

 

[Sharpshooter12]

yes they have ....... question is can those tank fire ?

You are talking about the tanks that were with the Afghan army before the fall of Kabul to Mujahideen groups. Later they were divided among the warlords and most of them became rusty showpieces. Right now I don't think ANA has a single MBT in service. They have APC's thou, a lot of them.

 

[Zibago]

I have my reservations over mining but i am totally supportive of fencing

 

[muhammadali233]

yes, T-62 and T-55

Good for target practice .Pak Armour will have fun.

 

[CHACHA"G"]

Afghanistan deploy tanks,,,,,,,,,,,,

That must be work of this bad thing

But if they want Party lets give them one ,, A BIG ONE

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Good for target practice .Pak Armour will have fun.

Just use Baktar Shikan

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

They have tanks?

remember they used them to ward off USSR back in the day?

 

[Jahaz]

Which ones are we placing there?