LANDI KOTAL:
A jirga from Afghanistan that was supposed to carry a gathering with its Pakistani counterpart for reopening of the Torkham border crossing on Thursday returned to Kabul with out the assembly, citing concern about inclusion of latest members within the Pakistani jirga.
Tensions escalated on the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan within the final week of February after the Afghan safety forces began making some new constructions near the border.
Final week each international locations shaped jirgas to resolve the battle.
Representatives from each side held their first assembly on the Torkham border a couple of days in the past and agreed to a ceasefire and discussions on the difficulty of disputed constructions.
As per the jirga’s determination, each international locations carried out a ceasefire, which stays in impact thus far.
Consistent with the settlement, the Afghan jirga met with Afghan officers in Kabul on Wednesday to convey the Pakistani’s issues about new constructions.
After receiving directions from Kabul, the Afghan jirga arrived at Torkham at 1pm on Thursday for negotiations. Nevertheless, after ready for 2 hours, it returned with out participating in talks.
The top of the Afghan jirga and Afghan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Yunus Mohmand mentioned the Afghan delegation was scheduled to carry a decisive and closing negotiation session with the Pakistani jirga.
“The Afghan jirga arrived forward of time, however was stunned when the Pakistani aspect unilaterally elevated its delegation from 17 members to 70 with out prior session.”
Based on Mohmand, the Afghan delegation discovered this surprising and regarding, as the brand new listing, in response to him, included “irrelevant people with no connection to Pak-Afghan tensions or bilateral commerce”.
Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, head of the Pakistani jirga and advisor to the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, confirmed the event.
He mentioned the Afghan delegation objected to inclusion of 53 extra members to the Pakistani delegation, which initially comprised 17 members.
Kazmi mentioned this was a severe bilateral dispute affecting peace and financial stability between two brotherly nations. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to resolving the Torkham border concern by means of negotiations.
He mentioned regardless of the Afghan jirga’s withdrawal, each side remained in touch. Nevertheless, by the point additional discussions might be organized, the Afghan delegation had already returned to Kabul, making their return to Torkham on the identical day logistically tough.
Kazmi expressed confidence that by tomorrow (Friday), efforts could be made to deliver the Afghan jirga again to the negotiating desk and resolve the difficulty peacefully.