ISLAMABAD: Claims of ownership over two border posts have been the latest source of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Kharlachi-Borki crossing point between the two countries. Both sides have deployed additional forces on their sides of the border.
According to reports the Afghan Taliban government raised objections on two border posts built by Pakistan as part of a comprehensive border management mechanism that include fencing of 2640km erstwhile porous border with Afghanistan.
Government officials of Kurram district administration and people in the areas told the local English daily Business Recorder that heavy weapons had been moved to the border by both countries following an escalation in tensions.
They said that tensions escalated following Pakistani security forces opening fire and killing a suspected militant on July 27, who was attempting to scale the fence and enter Pakistan illegally, the report added.
Meanwhile, official sources said that preparations were under way and all necessary measures had been under taken to foil any cross-border aggression. A senior official of the civil administration of Kurram tribal district said on condition of anonymity that Pakistani security forces were exercising restraints while keeping a close eye on the situations. “We don’t want to escalate the tension and hope that the issue is resolved peacefully, as the two sides are still in touch,” the official added.
Following the incident, the local Taliban authorities unilaterally shut the designated Kharlachi-Boraki border crossing for trade activities. Since then, a number of meetings of the border officials from both sides took place but with no progress so far.
The Taliban authorities have asked the residents of bordering villages, including Estiya, DandaPathan, Nargisai, and others to vacate their homes and move their families to safer areas.
The locals on Pakistan side of the border said that until Tuesday night, the Afghan security forces were conducting military exercises by testing heaving weapons across the border which had further escalated the risk of a bloody clash as a vast population resided on both sides of the border.
Pakistan began fencing its border with Afghanistan in March 2017, after facing a spate of deadly attacks from Afghanistan-based militant groups.
