Afghanistan’s ambassador to Islamabad called the Durand Line a national issue, saying that the decision over its fate should be referred to the nation.
Sardar Ahmad Khan Shikib, the newly appointed ambassador of the Islamic Emirate to Pakistan, also called on Islamabad to be the first nation to recognize the ruling Afghan government.
“The Durand problem [is] an issue between [our] two countries, it is a type of national issue and we need to refer to the nation, to the Afghans. We cannot decide about the Durand Line,” he told Arab News.
Some Pakistani sources told TOLOnews that efforts are underway to resolve rising tensions over the Durand Line, which is a disputed, de facto border between Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate.
“Efforts are underway from both sides to solve the tension over fencing the Durand Line. Every day, the delegation of the two sides makes contact,” said Tahir Khan, a Pakistani journalist.
Ambassador Shikib urged the international community to recognize the Afghan government.
“This is the natural right of Afghans to be recognized. We call on the international community to recognize us and let us enter a new era,” he said.
This comes as tension over the Durand Line fencing has recently escalated between Kabul and Islamabad.
The fencing of the Durand Line was one of the controversial issues in the era of the former government as well.
Political analysts gave differing views on the Durand Line issue.
“This issue has affected stability, relations, security and regional feelings,” said Sayed Baqir Mohsini, a political analyst.
“This issue should be solved in international ways and between the governments. Leaving the issue to the people is not a logical way,” said Samar Saadat, a political analyst.
While the Pakistani military has pledged to complete the fencing along the Durand Line, a senior commander of the Islamic Emirate in the eastern zone said they would not allow any more fencing.
Meanwhile, one member of the Afghan Border Force was killed and three others were wounded in a clash with Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in Mohmand Dara district in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Thursday evening, the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said.
Khogyani said that three civilians were also wounded in the clash that continued for one hour.
According to him, the clashes started after the Pakistani forces violated the international border.
Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces are not new. Back in May, at least four Afghan border force members were killed in clash with Pakistani forces in Spin Boldak district in the southern province of Kandahar. The clash left 23 civilians wounded.
