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KABUL/ISLAMABAD, July 15: Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed on Tuesday to send investigators to their border to try to end a row over alleged Pakistan incursions, while the United States urged them to patch up their differences.
A meeting in Kabul between Afghan, Pakistan and US security officials ended with agreement to send a three-party team to the border to investigate the reported incursions.
“The sub-committee will carry out ground verifications within a week to address each other’s concerns and submit its findings as soon as possible,” the countries said in a statement.
In Kabul, about 200 Afghans protested against the alleged border intrusions by Pakistan, while Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said he was saddened by the deterioration in relations between the neighbours.
The peaceful protest in Kabul came a day after Afghanistan said Pakistani troops crossed up to 600 metres (yards) into the eastern part of the country, an area where soldiers from both sides have clashed in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali denied any incursions had taken place.
“What would we gain by entering 600 metres (yards)? We are not in an athletics race, are we? It doesn’t make any sense,” he told Reuters in Islamabad.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have long had disagreements over their porous border, but recent intermittent clashes and accusations of intrusions have seriously strained relations.
Protests have erupted in Afghanistan and a mob attacked the Pakistan embassy last week.
TALIBAN FIGHTERS: Afghanistan’s latest allegations came during a brief operation by US-led forces on Afghan soil, and by Pakistan troops on their side of the border, to prevent movement of ousted Taliban fighters and their al Qaeda allies.
The US government’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Iraq, Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, said Washington wanted to see cooperation between the neighbours, both of which back the US-led war on terror.
“On the part of Pakistan, every effort has to be made by the government of Pakistan not to allow its territory to be used by forces, such as the Taliban,” he told reporters in Kabul.
Afghan officials complain that Taliban fighters plot attacks from the safety of Pakistan’s lawless border areas. Pakistan says it does all it can do to stop militants crossing.
Mr Khalilzad said some countries might try to take advantage of the neighbours’ strained ties.
“There are some countries, forces — I’m not going to name anyone — who may seek to create a problem within Afghanistan, Pakistan, take advantage of it. Afghans have to be very careful about that,” he said. He did not elaborate.
Mr Jamali said his government was trying to help Afghanistan rebuild, and blamed a “third party” for souring relations and provoking the embassy attack.
Mr Jamali said he could not rule out Indian involvement in the embassy attack, and complained that its arch foe was trying to extend its influence in Afghanistan at Pakistan’s expense.
The Afghan delegation was led by National Security Advisor Dr Zalmai Rassoul, assisted by the Deputy Minister of Interior-general Hilalludin Hilal and General Sher Muhammad Karimi of the Ministry of Defence, an official spokesman said.
The Pakistan delegation was led by Director-General of Military Operations, Major-General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and assisted by Director-General and Additional Secretary Rashed Saleem Khan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Major-General Franklin Hagenbeck and Ambassador Victor Jackovich led the US delegation, which also included representatives from United States embassies in Kabul and Islamabad, the spokesman said.—Reuters/APP
