Afghans won’t compromise on Durand Line: Hamid Karzai

Kabul: The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the Pakistani military has repeatedly forced Afghanistan to recognize Durand Line, as the formal border line between the two countries.

Speaking during a one-day seminar organized on the issue of Durand Line, Karzai insisted that the people of Afghanistan remains committed regarding their rights and will not make any compromise, to recognize the Durand Line as the formal border line.

He said the Afghan nation will never compromise with their rights and called on Pakistan, to allow the nations live in a peaceful environment. Karzai also expressed concerns regarding persisting efforts to keep the residents along the Durand Line away by limiting their access to education.

The porous Durand Line has also been a source of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan where numeous cross-border attacks have been carried out. The cross-border incursions involving the Pakistani military escalated last year in eastern provinces of Afghanistan, particularly the eastern Kunar and Nuristan.

The shelling which started earlier last year continued for several months and sporadic shelling and clash still taking place occasionally. At least three Pakistani soldiers and eight members of the Afghan border police lost their lives in the latest clash along the Durand Line late last month.

The Pakistani ambassador in Kabul Syed Abrar Hussain was summoned in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan (MoFA) shortly after the incident where a strong protest was lodged regarding the provocative moves by the Pakistani military.

The Pakistani envoy was also summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affiars in July to protest against border violation and cross-border shelling.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt