Issue of
cross-border attacks
still unresolved, say experts
Waqar Ahmed
Diplomatic observers and defence management experts, while expressing
satisfaction at the resolution of Nato supply routes issue, have warned that
relations between Pakistan and Nato/Isaf could again plunge into a crisis if
the cross border attacks from Afghanistan were not immediately controlled by
the concerned authorities.
“The trend of cross border attacks is continuing and I find it a pretty
dangerous development,” said a retired diplomat here in the federal capital. “I
can predict a serious crisis in the near future if armed militants in
Afghanistan were not stopped from attacking Pakistan.”
In an unfortunate development, militants from Afghanistan’s Kunar
province recently attacked a border post within the Pakistani territory,
killing six Pakistani soldiers. Eleven other soldiers who were abducted were
later slaughtered. The murder orgy was strongly condemned by Pakistan.
Also, an attack by Afghan militants on the Kharakar check post located
near the Barawal and Maidan villages in Upper Dir was foiled by the Pakistani
forces. Five militants and one FC official lost their lives in the clash.
Reports said Kunar’s government spokesman had admitted the attack had
taken place but claimed that the attackers had come from the Pakistan side of
the border and were patronised by Pakistani militants, who carried out this
misadventure to malign Afghanistan.
In August last year, hundreds of Afghan militants straddling the border
had brazenly attacked the Drosh area in Chitral, killing 25 Pakistani soldiers,
including officials of the Chitral Scouts.
On the other hand, a defence analyst, with expertise in soldiering,
pointed out he was surprised at the non-assertive and rather vague response of
the Afghan government towards the serious issue, which was claiming both
civilian and military lives. He said, “Kabul either blames Pakistan for these
attacks or comes up with fictional incidents on its border blaming the
Pakistani forces. This is not acceptable.”
He added that Nato/Isaf forces cannot escape responsibility for the
cross border attacks as they virtually controlled the Afghan forces.
Significantly, upon the conclusion of joint Pak-Saudi military exercises last
year, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had stated that any incursion
from Afghan side of the border would get a befitting response.
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