Ashrafuddin Pirzada
TORKHAM: Pakistan and Afghan officials held a flag meeting at Torkham Zero point in Pakistan and agreed to reopen the Torkham border closed after tension erupted over the construction of bunker at the Afghan side of the border five days ago, officials said on Sunday.
An official requesting anonymity told Fata Voice News Agency by phone that the meeting between Pakistan and Afghanistani officials started at 12 am and lasted for two hours.
He said the Afghan side headed by Afghan customs head Hafiz Asmatullah Yaqoobi, commander Major General Security Afghan forces Qari Meraj and
Molvi Takal.
Pakistani side led by commandant Khyber Rifles colonel Asim Kiyani while 142 Wing Chitral Scout, Lt, Col Ahmad Mujtaba, border Coordination Committee head Lt Col Bilal, Lt Col Zainul Abideen and Maj, Shahahud din also accompanied him.
The officials said that both sides agreed to help resolve disputes through negotiations and table talks. He said both sides said that fighting over petty issues was not the solution to any mutual differences.
The Afghan side informed the counterparts that they were constructing a new security post and repairing the old security posts on the Afghan territory. Afghan officials said they were busy in construction when the gun firing started. Afghan authorities assured Pakistani officials that the new post being constructed would not be against Pakistan, the official revealed.
The official said the Pakistani side told the Afghan officials that they could renovate the old security posts while international law does not allow the construction of new security posts within the limits of 100 meters to the International border. Pakistani officials told Emarat-e-Islami that they had to inform Pakistan prior to the construction of new security posts near the Zero point.
Afghan officials requested the Pakistani authorities to reopen the Torkham border as hundreds of trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables started decomposing due to hot weather on both sides of the border, sources said.
Pakistani delegation heard the Afghan officials and assured them to resolve the issue with directions of high-ups. Afghan officials were told that they would inform high ups and after their instruction, they could resume Movement via the Torkham border.
Meanwhile, the Pak-Afghan Torkham border remained closed on the 5th day after border forces exchanged gunfire and targeted each other installations. A number of casualties also happened in the hours-long gunfight due to the tension that erupted over the construction of a bunker at the Torkham border.
Long queues of heavy trucks and passenger coaches were seen parked on the road in Landikotal waiting for the reopening of the border.
