The Afghan border police say the Pakistani military has started building dozens of check posts at points on the Zero Zone along the Durand Line in areas located in Spin Boldak district of the southern Kandahar province.
According to the Afghan border forces, the check posts are apparently being built in the controversial villages of Loqman and Jahangir that Afghanistan consider as part of its own territory.
This comes three months after Afghan security forces engaged in a deadly battle with the Pakistani forces in the area after Pakistan military tried to conduct a survey in the controversial villages. Both sides sustained casualties in the fighting.
“The Pakistanis want us to determine the border with them. We are not in a position to do so as that authority lies with Afghanistan’s people and the central government,” Col. Sharif Gharzay, commander of the 3rd battalion of Afghan Border Police Gharzay said.
Nearly three months ago border forces opened fire on each other across the Durand Line after Afghan authorities accused Pakistani officials of having breached their territory.
Afghan border officials said that Pakistan built dozen of check posts in the Loqman and Jahangir villages of Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
“Pakistani forces took advantage of the cease-fire and forced residents of the villages to leave the areas and they built check posts in their houses,” Gharzay said.
“After the clash they [Pakistan] offered a ceasefire and we accepted. That ceasefire is still in place and we pulled back our forces by order of our police chief,” Gharzay said.
Although no new clashes have occurred between the two countries forces, Afghan forces have said that we are prepared to respond any action by Pakistan in the area.
“We are ready and if Pakistani forces act in any way, we will respond in no uncertain terms,” one of the Afghan border police soldier said.
Nearly three months ago, when Pakistani forces wanted to build check posts in the Loqman and Jahangir villages, they faced Afghan border forces who responded forcefully. In the clash that lasted for 12 hours both side suffered casualties.
Afghan border forces said that Pakistani border forces build the check posts at night.
According to international and border laws, Pakistani and Afghan military personnel are not allowed to stay within to two kilometres of the zero line and should be positioned two kilometres away from that line.