Maintaining Fraternal Relations With Afghanistan is of Paramount Importance: MFA Pakistan

Maintaining fraternal and enduring relations with Afghanistan is of paramount importance stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan on Friday in a statement.

Following the recall of the Afghan Chargé de’ Affaires in Islamabad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday expressed its strong condemnation over recent incidents of unprovoked cross-border shelling by Afghan border security forces in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area which resulted in the loss of life, injuries and damage to the property. 

In the statement, the Foreign Office said Pakistan remains committed to maintaining fraternal and enduring relations with Afghanistan. It added maintaining peace along the Pakistan-Afghan border is intrinsic and it should not be disturbed by on-and-off shelling.

Following the recent cross-border attacks, the For­eign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in a statement at the UN headquarters said Pakistan could reconsider its strategy for dealing with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, but it could not afford to disengage with Kabul. This is because Afghanistan plays a critically important role in helping the Pakistani government to engage with the Pakistani Taliban and other insurgent groups.  

Meanwhile, after Teheek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off the year-long ceasefire with the Pakistani government, attacks and violence have increased, most notably in Peshawar and Quetta. Different insurgent groups are involved in creating chaos and violence. Similarly, the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated over the past couple of weeks. Terror attacks and bombings have taken the lives of scores of innocent civilians.

Apparently, the two neighboring countries are suffering from cross border terrorism but in different contexts. Therefore, established institutional mechanisms to avoid further cross border shelling is best for both sides.  

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