Afghan General warns Pakistan of dire consequences
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Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq has warned Pakistan of dire consequences if a diplomatic solution is not found to ease tensions along the border.
This comes just days after military forces from the two countries engaged in a fierce battle over the village of Luqman inside Afghan territory.
The Afghan security forces maintain the right to retaliate if efforts for a political solution fails, he said.
“A technical team from the ministry of defense is expected to arrive here to find out which of these villages belong to Afghanistan and which of them to Pakistan, it will also determine the fate of Luqman village,” said Raziq.
Raziq who has attended two rounds of talks with Pakistani military representatives has said that the outcome of his discussions with the Pakistanis would be shared with government once talks have concluded.
“If Pakistan takes action in defiance over the agreement, then we are forced to retaliate, but our expectation is that the issue is settled through diplomacy and talks,” added Raziq.
The Spin Boldak crossing has remained closed to traffic over the past three days since security forces from the two sides engaged in an armed battle in the area.
A technical delegation from the two sides has also agreed to finalize their assessments about the fate of Luqman village.
“The purpose of our trip here is that a ceasefire should be in place so that civilians on either side of the border can return to their homes and (that we can) find a solution to the issue through diplomacy,” said general Farid Ahmad, head of the Afghan delegation.
Raziq has also called on the Pakistani government to stop conducting their census in Luqman village while talks are underway.
In defiance of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, the Pakistani military forces entered Afghan territory in Spin Boldak to carry out a census.
But, the two sides engaged in an armed confrontation after Afghan forces tried to stop the Pakistani forces from conducting the census. Both sides suffered casualties.
According to reports, at least four Afghan border security personnel and nine Pakistani officers were killed in the battle. The battle also left 80 people wounded on both sides of the border.
Meanwhile, some residents have raised hopes that the tensions come to an end so that they can return to their homes.
“We want the route to be reopened, because people have a lot of problems,” said a resident of Spin Boldak Mohammad Jan.
“Our vehicles are stranded on the other side of the border,” said another resident Wali Jan.
Source: Tolo News
