Pak-Afghan DGMOs hold meeting at GHQ

Published July 3, 2014
A view of the General Headquarters. — File photo
A view of the General Headquarters. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: A high-level eight-member delegation of the Afghan military arrived in Islamabad and visited the army's general headquarters on Thursday.

The Afghan delegation was led by Major General Afzal Aman Director General Military Operation (DGMO) with representatives from the Afghan National Security Council (NSC), Afghan military intelligence and Afghan border police.

The Pakistani side was headed by Major General Amir Riaz, DGMO Pakistan Army.

A detailed briefing was given on border coordination mechanism.

Issue of cross border shelling, terrorists sanctuaries in Kunar and Nuristan provinces of Afghanistan and attack on Pakistani border village and posts from those sanctuaries also came under discussion.

The Aghan delegation was told that Pakistan only fires back in self defence when Pakistani border posts are physically attacked or fired upon by terrorists from Afghan territory and no indiscriminate firing is carried out.

The meeting was held in a cordial, congenial and professional atmosphere.

Both sides agreed to build further trust, continue to talk under all circumstances and evolve a robust and effective bilateral border coordination mechanism.

Both sides agreed to meet next meeting for which scheduled is being finalized.

The delegation is expected to visit the Pak-Afghan border along with Pakistani military officials to assess exact situation at the border.

Earlier on Wednesday, a foreign office official had said during a media briefing that Pakistan would urge Afghan authorities to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts based on Afghan territory and not give them space to plan their operations.

Responding to a question, the official had ruled out any possibility of "hot pursuit" inside Afghanistan against TTP hideouts, saying Pakistan respected Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The official had said that Pakistan would like to work closely with the new Afghan government and wished for a peaceful and smooth transition of power in Kabul.

"Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan and is playing its role with neutrality," the official had maintained.

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