Afghan-Pak officials hold dialogue over Torkham border issue

Islamabad: Top Pakistani officials on Monday held discussions with their Afghan counterparts on the recent border clashes over the construction of a security gate by Pakistan. [caption id=“attachment_2845184” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Torkham border[/caption] A six-member delegation led by Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Karzai arrived here this morning. He led his side for talks with the Pakistani delegation led by foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. “The talks were held in cordial atmosphere,” it said. The Afghan delegation also called on the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who last week had held talks with Afghan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar to defuse border tensions. The tensions started last weekend when the two sides clashed over the security structures being built by Pakistan to stop illegal border movement. Pakistan on Friday re-opened its Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan after closing it for about six days due to tension over construction of the gate. The busy border crossing in the northwest was closed due to clashes between the two sides which killed a Pakistan army Major and an Afghan border guard. Pakistan has already announced that no one will be allowed to enter through Torkham without valid documents from 1 June. Pakistan has also announced that security gates will be constructed at eight recognised entry points from Afghanistan and patrolling of about 2,400-km long border will be increased to check illegal crossings.