Peace brokered on Pak-Afghan border

A jirga consisting of tribal elders and officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday after four days of clashes along the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border.

The skirmishes between Pakistani and Afghan forces escalated on Friday, leading to significant displacement from villages and settlements near the Kharlachi border crossing in Kurram.

The ceasefire has restored peace in the area, and the border crossing is expected to reopen soon.

Tribal elder Jalal Bangash told Dawn that the jirga was held at the Kharlachi border crossing and included local elders, clerics, and officials from both sides.

The meeting decided to form a joint peace committee to “make efforts for maintaining peace in the area,” Bangash said.

The jirga also resolved to address contentious issues amicably.

In view of the difficulties faced by people on both sides of the border, the jirga participants agreed to implement the ceasefire fully, Bangash added, noting that the crossing would be opened without delay.

The two sides also agreed to hold another meeting soon.

Some locals who had left the area due to the clashes have returned following the peace deal, sources told Dawn.

A resident, Shah Nawaz, said that locals faced severe hardships due to the clashes that began earlier this week. Schools in border areas were closed, and cross-border trade was suspended.

While no official statements were released by either the district administration or the Inter-Services Public Relations, casualties were feared as forces exchanged fire.

During her weekly press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was repeatedly asked about the situation on the Afghan border. However, rather than providing specific information about the clashes, she reiterated that Pakistan was ready to defend itself against any threats to its security and sovereignty.

May 19, 2024

Source: Dawn

By Editor

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