KABUL – Aghanistan on Saturday objected to the Pakistan’s decision ofKP-FATA merger, saying “the decision was against the 1921 agreement betweenthe British India and Afghanistan”.

Comments by the Afghan Presidential Palace came two days after both housesof the Pakistani parliament approved the merger with two-third majority.

“Pakistan’s decision is against the 1921 agreement between the BritishIndia and Afghanistan,” President Ashraf Ghani’s office said in astatement, which was posted online.

The statement said Pakistani parliament had taken the decision of themerger at a time when the “military was governing” the areas.

“Every decision about the tribal regions should be made in normal situationand in accordance with the consensus of the tribal people,” it said.

“The Afghan government believes that one-sided decision under the pretextto end the British-era laws and inhuman system is not solution to theproblems,” the statement added.

“We have always shared our concerns through diplomatic channels withPakistan and international community about Pakistan’s military interventionacross the Durand Line, especially in the tribal regions,” Ghani’s officefurther said.

Also the President’s Office announced that Afghanistan’s National SecurityAdvisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar would visit Pakistan today (Sunday) to meetsenior civil and military leaders.

According to the statement, Atmar will visit Pakistan at the invitation ofPrime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The delegation will hold talksregarding the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region.

The Afghan adviser will also meet Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar JavedBajwa, the statement further added.

This will be the first high level visit after Pakistan and Afghanistanagreed on a comprehensive bilateral mechanism for dialogue on key areas.

Both sides have operationalised five working groups under the AfghanistanPakistan Action Plan for Solidarity (APAPPS) and efforts are underway toimplement its seven key principles that also include their commitments totake action against fugitive and irreconcilable elements.

Pakistan, meanwhile, rejected the Kabul’s stance on KP-FATA merger.

“Our parliament’s decision reflects the will of the people of Pakistan,”Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said in reaction to Afghangovernment’s objection.

“The principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the conduct ofbilateral relations need be scrupulously adhered to by Afghanistan,” DrFaisal tweeted.