Pakistan reiterates its pledge to fence Durand Line despite Taliban objection

Amid tensions with Taliban, Pakistan on Saturday reiterated its pledge to fence Durand Line, Afghanistan media reported citing a Pakistani official. Notably, Pakistan and Afghanistan have always been at odds over almost 2,600-kilometre Durand Line, which has been a source of tension and turmoil between m, particularly since Islamab began erecting fences along line.

Now, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahm said, “ fencing extends to around 2,600 km. Only 21 km fencing remains. rest of fencing will be done in a way that satisfies Islamic Emirate. y (Kabul Authorities) are our brors.”

Taliban, on or hand, has stated that it is willing to resolve issue in negotiations. Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for Talibani government in Afghanistan said that militant group wants all issues to be resolved through negotiations, especially issues of Durand Line. Taliban h opposed Pakistan’s fence claiming that it was erected inside Afghan territory. 

Earlier at a conference, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told a Pashto channel: " new Afghan government will announce its position on this issue. fencing has separated people and divided families. We want to create a secure and peaceful environment on border so re is no need to create barriers." 

Tensions over Durand Line

Currently, it remains unclear if militant group h a formal agreement with Islamab on Durand Line fencing as videos that circulated earlier showed Taliban fighters uprooting a portion of fence along border, registering ir strong objection. militant group has stated that Pakistan has no authority to fence Durand Line since it causes division among people of one nation. Taliban has said that it will continue to prevent Islamab from doing that, as per Kabul News. 

Meanwhile, it should be noted here that fights have routinely broken out on border and Pakistan has mulled over its national security and has unilaterally me several attempts to install fence. Back in December, a sniper, belonging to Taliban, shot de two Pakistani soldiers in area where border fence was being installed by Islamab.

Several such heavy clashes have broken out since Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Military shells and artillery have been reported hitting villagers, which Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has condemned. 

(Image: ANI/AP)