PESHAWAR – Afghan and Pakistani will meet next week to work out a jointmechanism to de-escalate border tensions between the neighbours.
Tribal elders from southeastern Khost province and Pakistan tribal regionof Parachinarm as well as senior military commanders will attend themeeting on Sunday.
The decision came at a jirga in lower Kurram on Tuesday. Political AgentBaseer Khan, Commander 73 Brigade Brig Akhtar Haleem, lawmaker SajidHussain Turi and elders of various tribes participated in the jirga.
The jirga voiced its concern over a recent skirmish on the Durand Linelink>. Five Pakistani paramilitarysoldiers were killed and 12 others wounded in the clash.
Bodies of the Frontier Corps personnel were returned after negotiationsbetween elders. The clash was followed by a flag meeting between Afghan andPakistani security officials.
Elders demanded demarcation of the frontier on the Kurram side of theDurand Line to avoid confrontation. They said proper demarcation andfencing were in the interest of the two countries.