Pakistan has allegedly set up checkpoints inside Afghanistan’s territory in Bahramcha area of Desho district of southern Helmand province, said members of Helmand provincial council.
They claim that the check posts have been set up three kilometers inside Afghanistan’s border.
“Pakistanis still want to attack our soil. They have set posts in and have built military installations in Bahramcha,” said Ataullah Afghan, a member of the council.
Commander of 215 Maiwand Military Corps, Mohammad Moeen Faqir, confirmed that Pakistan has set check posts inside Afghanistan, but said that he had discussed the issue with Pakistani officials.
“I have discussed the issue with them [Pakistani officials] and they have said they didn’t do this. I told them that both of us should visit the area in a helicopter and if the installations were not built, then I am going to apologize, otherwise you should destroy the installations and if you don’t do this, then we are going to destroy them for you,” he said.
The army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Gen. Murad Ali Murad, said that such installations have been built and destroyed several times in the past. “We have threatened them that such actions will undermine the environment of trust between the two countries,” he said.
Previously, Pakistan had built installations in bordering areas in Paktika and Nangarhar provinces.
Even though officials constantly say that such issues should be resolved through diplomatic ways, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that they have not received any official letter in this regard so far.
“Although such remarks are being made, the MoFA have not received any fresh reports and details from security organizations recently in this regard,” said Shekib Mustaghni, spokesman for the MoFA.
Pakistan has in the past built military installations in Angor Ada area of Barmal district in Paktika province. This move by Pakistan was faced with a strong reaction from officials in Afghanistan. The MoFA said that they have discussed the issue with Pakistan officials and Pakistanis troops are expected the leave the area soon.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/23897-pakistan-builds-posts-inside-afghanistan-territory
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