WASHINGTON, Jan 9: The United States has sent its pointman for South Asia to Kabul amid growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan that threaten to undo the US-led alliance against terrorism.
Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, last met Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Ashkabad on Dec 28 during the funeral of Turkmen President Sapramurat Niyazov.
According to Afghan officials, Mr Boucher extended his support to the Afghan proposal for holding peace jirgas along the Pakistan-Afghan border and urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to launch a joint campaign to eliminate terrorism.
But since that meeting, the already tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated. The latest dispute revolves around Islamabad’s decision to fence and mine parts of the border with Afghanistan.
Last week, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited Kabul and defended the decision to fence the border during a meeting with President Hamid Karzai. He also told the Afghan leader that Islamabad wanted the three million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan to go home.
Afghan authorities claim that insurgents use the tribal belt for launching attacks inside Afghanistan. They also use the adjoining Pakistani territories for regrouping and planning their attacks.
Pakistan says that the proposed fencing and the repatriation of refugees could help end both the problems. The fences could prevent cross-border movements while the repatriation would deprive the insurgents of their safe havens along the border because they use Afghan refugee camps for hiding among their compatriots.
The United States so far appears reluctant to take a stand on Afghan-Pakistan disputes. “These are ongoing issues which are better addressed by the two governments,” said a State Department official when asked for comments.
“We understand that the Taliban are still there. We are working to combat the insurgency,” the official said when asked if fencing the border would help reduce militancy.
“Terrorism and militancy within and along the border remains a security issue for both countries and it must be addressed,” the official said. “We continue to encourage the Pakistani and Afghan leaders to review all their options for meeting such a challenge, to coordinate their effort and ensure the safety of civilians in the border area.”
