PESHAWAR: The closure of important border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been in place for one year following tensions over terrorism and strained diplomatic relations.
Despite negotiations and mediation by friendly countries, tensions between the two countries are not reducing, with bilateral trade suffering the most.
According to the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce, other crossings, including the important Torkham border crossing located in tribal district Khyber have been closed since 12 October last year, due to which trade is also completely suspended.
According to people associated with Pak-Afghan trade, after the change of government in Afghanistan, there was hope of improvement in relations and promotion of trade between the two countries.
There was also a general impression that Pakistan has full support of the Afghan Taliban government and that it would improve past bitter relations. However, according to Pakistani officials, after the Afghan Taliban came to power, relations deteriorated further instead of improving, the main reason for which is the increase in terrorism from Afghan soil and cross-border attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistani authorities’ stance is that Afghan soil is being used for terrorism in the country and anti-Pakistan elements are openly active against Pakistan from Afghanistan. These elements are targeting Pakistani security personnel and ordinary citizens.
Pakistan says that it has provided evidence to Afghanistan on several occasions, but the Afghan authorities not only did not take action, but did not even condemn these incidents.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while talking to the media, said that the basic issue with Afghanistan is terrorism and there are safe havens for terrorists there.He said, “We want, our only demand is that Afghanistan openly condemns incidents of terrorism and stands with us, but they are not ready.
“The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who has become the head of the advisory council after the imposition of Governor’s Rule, criticized the suspended provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, saying that now policies will come from Islamabad, not from Kabul.
Friendly countries also became active to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, there were several negotiations with Afghanistan, but every time the agenda was the same.
Friendly countries also tried to mediate to end the tense diplomatic relations and tensions between the two countries.He said that separate negotiations were held with the mediation of China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but Afghanistan is not ready to cooperate on the issue of terrorism.
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